Born in Sheringham, Norfolk, on 5 July 1914, Francis Edgar Stock's father was Edgar Stephen Stock, a clerk and former farmer. His mother was Olive Blanche née Cook. He was educated at Colfes Grammar School, London, and won the Sambrooke scholarship to King's College in 1933. At King's he won prizes in hygiene and psychological medicine, and the Todd and Self medals. He was prosector in anatomy at the College from 1934 to 1935. After qualifying, he did junior posts in Edinburgh and then joined the Colonial Service in Nigeria. On his return, he became a lecturer and first assistant to the department of surgery in Liverpool under Charles Wells, and then went out to Hong Kong as a Professor of Surgery from 1948 to 1963, where he broke new ground in developing the anterior approach for spinal tuberculosis. He returned to the Chair of Surgery in Liverpool in 1964. He was visiting surgeon to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney in 1960, consulting surgeon to the Royal Navy from 1949 to 1970 and to the British Army Hospital in Hong Kong. He was twice Hunterian Professor and was on the Court of Examiners from 1965 to 1969. He published extensively, including chapters in Rose and Carless on tropical surgery. In retirement he was busy with sailing, gardening and playing the organ in church. He married Gwendoline Thomas in 1939, who predeceased him. They had two sons and one daughter. He died in Jersey on 26 September 1997.