For Sir Isaac Wolfson's distinctions and career see *Who's Who* 1990 and the excellent memoir by Lord Bullock in *Biographical memoirs of the Royal Society* 1994 423-7.

Born on 17 August 1905, Sir Cyril was the son of Sir Alexander Kleinwort and became Chairman of the family company. He had long associations with the Royal College of Surgeons and was a leading figure, under Lord Kindersley, in arranging the College appeal. His outstanding experience and wisdom in m

Born on 28 September 1917, the son of George Levy, a company director, and his wife Beatrice, née Birn, Percy Levy was educated at Clifton College and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He joined the RAF in 1940 and rose to be Squadron-Leader. He worked with the 600 Group, being responsible for thei

Blond was a generous benefactor to the College, in conjunction with his relatives in the Marks family. He had made his wealth as a textile manufacturer in Manchester, and also served with distinction in both world wars, and as a public servant in influential positions in Whitehall, Paris, Washington

John Bors was born in Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia, on 27 October 1912. His father, Herbert Kaspar Bors, came from a German family that emigrated from Hanover in around 1840 and settled as farmers in Mount Gambier in 1842. At the time of John's birth his father was chairman and owner of Ing

James Cuming Stewart was born on 26 October 1905, the son of Sir Alexander Stewart who was born in Scotland and ultimately became an eminent Australian industrialist and company director. James was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and Ormond College, graduating MB BS in 1930. After holding junio

A businessman and former chairman of Marks and Spencer, Marcus Sieff was elected to an honorary fellowship in 1984 in recognition of his contributions to the College. He was born in 1913, the younger son of Israel Sieff and Rebecca Marks, an ardent Zionist. Rebecca's father Michael had co-founded t

Born at Ardwick Green, Manchester, in 1826, he was the younger son of Alexander Henry (d1862), Liberal MP for South Lancashire, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of George Brush of Dromore, Co Down, Ireland. Educated privately and at University College School in London. He afterwards joined the Pine S

Sir William Henry Collins was the most munificent benefactor in the history of the College, his gifts for the endowment of the scientific departments being comparable to, but surpassing, the great donations of Sir Erasmus Wilson and Sir Buckston Browne. He gave £100,000 to endow the professorship of

Leonard Bailey was an industrial chemist and managing director of Ethicon, who used his scientific knowledge and impressive managerial skills not only to succeed in his own career, but also to help others. He was born in Pontypridd, South Wales, on 8 August 1910, the son of a deputy chief inspector

Simon Marks was born on 9 July 1888 son of Michael and Hannah Marks and was educated at Manchester Grammar School. His father died in 1906 and Simon aged 18 went into the business his father had founded in Leeds market in 1884 of penny bazaar stores. During the first world war he worked on various G

Lord Wolfson was a businessman and an outstanding philanthropist. He was born in London, the only child of Edith and (later Sir) Isaac Wolfson, the son of Russian immigrants who had settled in Glasgow, and was educated at King’s School, Worcester. He succeeded to the Great Universal Stores business