Arthur Thomson (physician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Peregrine Thomson MC
, LLD
, MD
, FRCP (1890 British Guiana - 15 July 1977) was a British physician.
Born in British Guiana
the son of Arthur Henry Thomson, a colonial civil servant, he was educated at Dulwich College
and Birmingham University, where he graduated in 1915 with first class honours in medicine, surgery and midwifery. He was also awarded the Gold Medal in Clinical Medicine, the Russell Memorial Prize, and was both Queen's and Ingleby Scholar.
After graduation he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps
as a Captain and served as a Regimental Medical Officer with the Guards Division
in France during World War I
, where he was awarded the Military Cross
and the Croix de Guerre, and was Mentioned in Despatches twice by the British and once by the French.
After the war he was appointed Assistant Physician at Birmingham General Hospital, where he was elected MRCP in 1920 and obtained his
MD in 1923. He worked as a physician all his life specialising in diabetes. At the Birmingham Children's Hospital
he took special interest in Rheumatic Fever and the Baskerville School for children with rheumatic heart disease. Later in life he focussed his research activity on to ageing and chronic sickness, giving the Lumleian Lectures
on the subject in 1949. He had been elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
in 1930 and gave their Harveian Oration
in 1961.
In 1947 Birmingham University appointed him part-time Professor of Therapeutics, after which he became Dean of the Medical Faculty and in 1952 vice-principal of the University. He was knighted in 1959.
He married Minnie Scott Hutchings (née Lindsley) in Birmingham in 1912; they had one adopted daughter.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, LLD
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
, MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, FRCP (1890 British Guiana - 15 July 1977) was a British physician.
Born in British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
the son of Arthur Henry Thomson, a colonial civil servant, he was educated at Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and Birmingham University, where he graduated in 1915 with first class honours in medicine, surgery and midwifery. He was also awarded the Gold Medal in Clinical Medicine, the Russell Memorial Prize, and was both Queen's and Ingleby Scholar.
After graduation he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
as a Captain and served as a Regimental Medical Officer with the Guards Division
Guards Division
The Guards Division is an administrative unit of the British Army responsible for the administration of the regiments of Foot Guards and the London Regiment.-Introduction:...
in France during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, where he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and the Croix de Guerre, and was Mentioned in Despatches twice by the British and once by the French.
After the war he was appointed Assistant Physician at Birmingham General Hospital, where he was elected MRCP in 1920 and obtained his
MD in 1923. He worked as a physician all his life specialising in diabetes. At the Birmingham Children's Hospital
Birmingham Children's Hospital
The Birmingham Children's Hospital is a children's hospital located in Birmingham, England.It provides general and emergency health care services to children in Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond. It specialises in liver transplantation, cardiac, and neonatal surgery...
he took special interest in Rheumatic Fever and the Baskerville School for children with rheumatic heart disease. Later in life he focussed his research activity on to ageing and chronic sickness, giving the Lumleian Lectures
Lumleian Lectures
The Lumleian Lectures are a series of annual lectures run by the Royal College of Physicians of London, started in 1582 and now run by the Lumleian Trust. The name commemorates John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, who with Richard Caldwell of the College endowed the lectures, initially confined to...
on the subject in 1949. He had been elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in 1930 and gave their Harveian Oration
Harveian Oration
The Harveian Oration is a yearly lecture held at the Royal College of Physicians of London. It was instituted in 1656 by William Harvey, discoverer of the systemic circulation. Harvey made financial provision for the college to hold an annual feast on St...
in 1961.
In 1947 Birmingham University appointed him part-time Professor of Therapeutics, after which he became Dean of the Medical Faculty and in 1952 vice-principal of the University. He was knighted in 1959.
He married Minnie Scott Hutchings (née Lindsley) in Birmingham in 1912; they had one adopted daughter.