Born at Leeds, 7 June 1876, the third son of James William Gough, decorator, and Emma Armitage, his wife. He was educated at Leeds City School and Medical School, where he won the William Hey medal in surgery and a gold medal in physiology and histology. At the General Infirmary he served as senior house-surgeon to Mayo-Robson, and was for a time private assistant to Moynihan. After some years in general practice at Leeds, when he also served as director of the Yorkshire Pathological Laboratory, a private institute, Gough specialized as a gynaecological surgeon. He became assistant surgeon to the Women and Children's Hospital, Leeds, in 1909, surgeon 1919, and consulting surgeon in 1936. He was obstetric surgeon to the Leeds Maternity Hospital 1908-36, and gynaecological surgeon to the General Infirmary 1930-32. At the University of Leeds he was demonstrator of gynaecology 1911-23, lecturer 1926-31, and professor from 1931 to 1936. Gough took an active part in promoting the British (now Royal) College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, of which he was a founding Fellow. He served on its Council from 1937, was vice-president 1942-45 and chairman of the examinations committee in 44. He was president of the North of England Obstetrical and Gynaelogical Society in 1926, and a member of the Gynaecological Visiting society. Gough married in 1905 Agnes Innes Crane Fraser, who survived him with a son and four daughters. Their elder son, a boy of great promise, died before him, Gough died at his house, Dunearn, Wood Lane, Leeds on 29 June 1947, aged 71. His consulting rooms were at 31 Park Square Leeds, and he had a large private practice. Gough was an astute clinician and a simple and swift operator. He was ambidextrous and preferred to use his left hand. He was a good lecturer, but did not care for bedside teaching, nor did he like obstetrics.