Denis Ebrill was born in Limerick, Ireland, on 7 March 1916. His father, Charles, was an attorney. His mother was Margaret née Foley. He was educated at St George's College, Weybridge, King's College, London, and St George's Hospital, where he held junior posts and was resident assistant surgeon. He was clinical assistant at St Mark's Hospital, where he was influenced by W B Gabriel. His war service was with the RAF, in which he reached the rank of wing commander. His principal appointment was to Lincoln County Hospital. He wrote articles on Crohn's disease, Fournier's gangrene and ileus following gastrectomy. In 1943 he married Kathleen Maddocks and they had one son, Charles, who qualified in medicine in 1968. Ebrill had two grandchildren, Stephanie and Charlotte. His chief hobbies were shooting, fishing and ornithology. He died on 5 January 1997.