Harold Levy was born in Montreal, Canada, on December 11, 1875. He was educated at the Catholic Academy, Montreal, where he was gold medalist in 1891 and was trained at McGill University where he was also a gold medalist and graduated BA in 1895 and MD, CM in 1899. In 1900 he took the PhD of Rostock University and then came to St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. He obtained the MRCS LRCP in 1902 and the FRCS in 1909. He was appointed ophthalmic surgeon to Willesden General Hospital 1908, surgeon to the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital, ophthalmic surgeon to Putney General Hospital, and to the British Hospital for Incurables in 1911. In 1919 he was the first ophthalmic surgeon to be appointed to the London Jewish Hospital. He was also ophthalmic surgeon to Hayes Industrial School, Home for Aged Jews, Deaf and Dumb Home, Jewish Blind Society, Montefiore House for Girls, St Monica's Hospital for Children. During the first world war he was ophthalmic surgeon to Tooting Military Hospital and to the Mitcham Military Hospital. In 1918 he became a Captain in the RAMC. He was a member of the Council of the Ophthalmic Society of the United Kingdom and Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. He was President of the Ophthalmic Section of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1947 and was elected an honorary member of that section. He was managing director of the British journal of ophthalmology for twenty-five years starting in 1920. Sound and competent in his work he was beloved by all his patients and admired and respected by all his colleagues. A man of vast erudition he was a connoisseur, especially of painting and literature, and a delight to talk to on any subject. Even the infirmities of age, deafness and defective vision did not disturb his equanimity or the charm of his company. He did much work for the Jewish community, was a member of the Jewish Board of Deputies and President of the Jewish Health Organisation. In 1908 he married Lena Samuel and had one son and daughter. He died on 31 March 1977, aged 101 years.