Born at Lewisham, London, SE, on 9 December 1871, the fourth child and second son of Edmond Selby, wine merchant, and his wife, *née* Ross. He was educated at a private school kept by a Mr Ballance at Lewisham, and entered University College, London with an Andrews scholarship in 1886. In 1887 he entered as a medical exhibitioner at University College Hospital, won gold and silver medals and subsequently served as assistant demonstrator of anatomy and demonstrator of physiology. He settled in practice at Doncaster becoming surgeon to the General (now Royal) Infirmary and Dispensary, and eventually consulting surgeon. He lived first at 20 South Parade and from 1905 at 13 Hall Gate. In 1921 on his appointment as a regional medical officer of the Ministry of Health he settled at Crescent House, Hillary Place, Leeds, and in 1925 was living at Ben Rhydding, Yorkshire. In 1928 he moved to Bromley, Kent, and was promoted a divisional medical officer of the Ministry in 1930. He retired in 1935 and subsequently lived at 116 Otley Road, Leeds 6. He had been created OBE in 1920. Selby married twice: (1) in 1892 Edith Mary Vercoe, by whom he had a son and two daughters; and (2) in 1908 his first wife's sister, Lily Vercoe, by whom he had one son. He died at Guildford on 26 July 1943, aged 72.