Joseph Murray had an illustrious career as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, but his unique achievement was to perform the first successful kidney transplant, on identical twins, in 1954, for which he was awarded a Nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1990. He was born in Milford, Massach

Born on 4 May 1900, son of John Mclndoe and Mabel Hill of Dunedin NZ, he was educated at Otago High School and the medical school of Otago University, where he was a medallist in medicine and surgery. After qualifying he was appointed house surgeon at Waikato Hospital, and in 1924 was awarded a Foun

Charles Henry Beard was born on 14 August 1938, the son of an eminent anaesthetist. He was educated at Westminster School, where he was a chorister, scholar and became school captain. As a chorister he had the distinction in 1953 to sing out 'Vivat, vivat Regina' when the crown was placed on Her Maj

Richard John Vulliamy Battle was born on 21 January 1907 at 49 Harley Street, London Wl, the son of William Henry Battle, surgeon to St Thomas's Hospital, London, and Annie Marguerite Vulliamy, who was descended from a long line of clockmakers. He was educated at Highfield School, Liphook, Gresham's

Bernard McCarthy was educated at Melbourne University, gaining a BSc there in 1948, qualifying MB BS in 1950 and received the Melbourne MS in 1955. After early appointments at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, and as a demonstrator in anatomy and clinical surgery at Melbourne University, he came to

John Lendrum was a consultant plastic surgeon in Manchester and Rochdale. He was born in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, on 24 October 1936 into a long-established medical family. His father, George McCormack Lendrum, was a general practitioner; his mother, Enid Lendrum née Fletcher, was a housewife.

After graduating at Manchester and resident appointments there, Rowland Osborne became resident surgical officer at the Park Hospital, Davyhulme. In 1940 he was appointed superintendent of Whiston Hospital, Prescot, a mixed civilian and military establishment where he developed an interest in plasti

Emlyn Lewis was born in America on 10 April 1910; his mother brought him at an early age to Wales and he was educated at Monmouth. He later entered St Mary's Hospital and qualified from there in 1929. After obtaining his Fellowship he held appointments of surgical registrar at King's College Hosp

Sorab Jal Mehta was born in 1929 and had his medical undergraduate education at the Grant Medical College, obtaining the MB BS degree from the University of Bombay in 1953. After holding junior appointments at home he came to England in 1955 and did his surgical training at the Birmingham Accident H

David Francis Cort was born on 19 March 1935 in Hull, where his father was a bank manager. David was a bright student and gained a Staffordshire County scholarship which took him to Denstone College at Uttoxeter. From here he was awarded an open exhibition in natural sciences to Gonville and Caius C

Frank Robinson, the son of a general practitioner, was born in Bolton in 1914. There had been doctors in every generation of the family since 1800. After graduation from Manchester in 1940 he was called up for service in the RAMC, first at Aldershot and later at Baguley Emergency Medical Service Hos

Lyall Robertson McLaren was born on 15 June 1917 and educated at Epsom College, Downing College, Cambridge, and Guy's Hospital. After qualifying in 1941 he served for four years as a Surgeon-Lieutenant in the RNVR, including three years at sea in the East Indies. He returned to junior surgical appoi