Ian Donaldson was born on 20 January 1914, the son of David Donaldson, a marine engineer and Margaret Jane, née Smith. He was an exceptional student especially in the study of languages. Ian studied at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School where he obtained a number of prizes. House appointments at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford and at the Royal Free were followed by a registrar appointment in the obstetrics and gynaecological department at St George's Hospital. His consultant appointment was at the Woking Hospital and at the City of London Maternity Hospital. Pressure of work caused him to leave Woking as he had built up a very extensive private practice in Harley Street. He was a most kindly man always willing to help and his understanding of pain and the mechanisms of pain relief were to be of great help in his work as an obstetrician. He delivered countless midwives, women doctors and doctors' wives. As a youth Ian had been very keen on gymnastics and sailing and his ability as a horseman has been mentioned. A keen scholar, he taught himself ancient Greek to enable him to read the Greek testament. He was also fluent in Italian, German, Persian and French. He married on 8 December 1945 Dr Edith Gilchrist who was to become a notable anaesthetist and medical historian. They had one son, Ian Gilchrist Donaldson, who qualified in medicine and emigrated to Queensland, Australia. Ian developed carcinoma of the prostate from which he died on 8 December 1986. He was survived by his wife and son.