Frank William Law was born in Isleworth, London, on 14 August 1898, the third son of Thomas Law, a drapery warehouseman, and his wife Emma, née MacRae. He was educated at St Paul's School and St John's College, Cambridge, proceeding to the Middlesex Hospital for his clinical studies where he graduat

Born on 16 August 1900, eldest son of James Greenwood of Blackburn, he served for two years in the Royal Flying Corps in the first world war. Afterwards he studied pharmacy in Blackburn Technical College, and by means of scholarships he worked his way at St Bartholomew's Hospital to study medicine.