Mendel Gordon was born on 31 May 1902. He went to school in Bournemouth before training at King's College, London and Charing Cross Medical School, where he qualified with the Conjoint Diploma in 1929 and was awarded the Governor's gold medal in medicine and surgery. After house surgeon appointments at Charing Cross Hospital he became registrar in ear, nose and throat surgery at the Royal Free Hospital. He served throughout the second world war in the RAFVR holding the rank of Squadron Leader. Later he worked with Sir Archibald Mclndoe in plastic surgery. He held appointments at the National Temperance Hospital, Sydenham Children's Hospital and Mayday Hospital. His principal interest in later life was in rhinoplasty. He died on 2 March 1983, survived by two sons and a daughter.