George Kirkland was born in Glasgow on 5 November 1904, the son of Robert Kirkland, a grain merchant, and Margaret Russell. He was educated at Eastbank Academy, Glasgow, and at Glasgow University, where he qualified in 1927. He was a general practitioner in Oldham from 1929 to 1948, and a general surgeon to Oldham Royal Infirmary and Ancoats Hospital, Manchester, from 1935 to 1969, where he trained under Peter McEvedy. He was elected FRCS in 1963, and became President of the Surgical Section of the Manchester Medical Society. After retirement to St Andrew's in Fife he proved himself a talented handyman by carrying out major conversions to his house single-handedly. He was also a good photographer and enjoyed caravanning. He married Mary Kirby in 1931 and they had one son, Robert, and two daughters, all of whom were adopted. Mary died in October 1992, and George survived her by only a few months.