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Resource Name:
Resource Type:
External Resource
Metadata
Asset Name:
E003947 - Dawson, Sir Bertrand Edward, Viscount Dawson of Penn (1864 - 1945)
Title:
Dawson, Sir Bertrand Edward, Viscount Dawson of Penn (1864 - 1945)
Author:
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Identifier:
RCS: E003947
Publisher:
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication Date:
2013-05-01
Description:
Obituary for Dawson, Sir Bertrand Edward, Viscount Dawson of Penn (1864 - 1945), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Language:
English
Source:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Full Name:
Dawson, Sir Bertrand Edward, Viscount Dawson of Penn
Date of Birth:
9 March 1864
Date of Death:
7 March 1945
Place of Death:
London
Occupation:
Titles/Qualifications:
Viscount 1936

Baron 1920

KCVO 1911

Hon FRCS 10 March 1932

MRCS 28 July 1890

MD London 1893

FRCP 1903
Details:
Lord Dawson of Penn, consulting physician to the London Hospital and physician in ordinary to four successive monarchs and sometime president of the Royal College of Physicians, was elected an Honorary Fellow of the College on 10 March 1932. He never practised surgery or took official part in the College's affairs, though an ardent supporter of intercollegiate amity. Only a brief outline of his career follows. Born 9 March 1864, son of Henry Dawson, FRIBA of Purley, he was educated at St Paul's School and at University College, London. He took the Conjoint diplomas in 1890 and the London MD in 1893, and was elected assistant physician to the London Hospital in 1896. He was elected FRCP in 1903, and physician to the London Hospital in 1906. In 1907 he became physician extraordinary to King Edward VII, and afterwards physician in ordinary to him, to King George V, King Edward VIII, and King George VI, and to Queen Mary. During the war of 1914-18 Dawson was at first, as a captain RAMC, commandant of the 2nd London General Hospital and later consulting physician to the Army in France with the rank of colonel A.M.S., and was mentioned despatches. In 1919 he was promoted major-general and appointed honorary member of the Army Medical Advisory Board. He had been knighted KCVO at King George's coronation 1911. Sir Bertrand Dawson was created a Baron in 1920 as Lord Dawson of Penn, and was raised to a Viscountcy in 1936 in the sole birthday honours list of King Edward VIII's reign. In 1931 he became PRCP and was re-elected yearly till 1938. He was president of the BMA in 1932 and on the tragic death of Sir Beckwith Whitehouse, FRCS in 1943 was re-elected president, in which position his wise counsel was of great value during the negotiations about the nationalizing of medical services. Dawson served on the Medical Research Council and was chairman of its special committee on tuberculosis in war-time. He was on the council of King Edward's Hospital, Fund for London from 1929. He was in demand also as a lecturer on topics of general sociological interest, and contributed statesmanlike letters to *The Times*. He married in 1900 Minnie Ethel, youngest daughter of Sir Arthur Yarrow, 1st Baronet. Lord Dawson died on 7 March 1945 of pneumonia at his house, 149 Harley Street, W1, two days before his eighty-first birthday. Lady Dawson of Penn survived him with three daughters, the eldest of whom had married David Eccles, MP, third son of W McAdam Eccles, FRCS. Lord Dawson had no son and his peerage became extinct. A memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey, at which the King was represented. Lord Dawson directed by his will that his body be opened in the interest of science and as an example of the need for the bequest of bodies for anatomy.
Sources:
*The Times*, 8 March 1945, p 7e, with portrait, 10 March, p 7e, appreciation by L K, funeral, 21 March, p 7b, memorial service, 25 August, will

*Lancet*, 1945, 1, 353, with portrait, and eulogy by Sir Alfred Webb-Johnson, PRCS, and p 388

*Brit med J*. 1945, 1, 374 and 389, with portrait and eulogies, p 426, eulogies, and 1945, 2, 329, will

*Sunday Times*, 11 March 1945, eulogy by Lord Moran, PRCP, reprinted in *Lancet*, p. 388 and *Brit med J*. p. 389 (see above)

*Nature*, 1945, 155, 325

F Watson, Dawson of Penn, a biography, London, 1951
Rights:
Copyright (c) The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Collection:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format:
Obituary
Format:
Asset
Asset Path:
Root/Lives of the Fellows/E003000-E003999/E003900-E003999
Media Type:
Unknown