Gordon Mathison
Encyclopedia
Captain Gordon Clunes Mackay Mathison MB BS, MD, DSc, FRCP
(born 1883 in Stanley, Victoria
, Australia
, died 1915 in Alexandria
, Egypt
) was a physician and medical researcher. He was appointed as the first director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
in Melbourne
, Australia, but died from wounds received in the Battle of Gallipoli
before taking up the position.
from 1896 to 1900, where his scholarship and good character were later remembered. From 1901 to 1905 Mathison studied medicine at the University of Melbourne
, where he received many academic awards.
. He received a Beit Memorial Fellowship in 1910 to conduct research at University College Hospital, where he was awarded a DSc for his research into the physiology of respiration. During this period he focused on the effects of asphyxia, and was commissioned by the Royal Society to investigate the causes of altitude sickness.
In September 1913 Mathison was appointed Sub-Director of Pathology and Sub-Dean of the Clinical School at the Melbourne Hospital
. On 23 April 1915 Mathison was nominated as the first director of the nascent Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
, but did not survive to take up the position, which was later offered to Dr Sydney Patterson
.
, he enlisted in the 2nd Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps. He embarked with his unit on HMAT A18 Wiltshire from Melbourne to Egypt on 19 October 1914. Mathison was attached as a medical officer to the 5th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force
at the time of the Battle of Gallipoli
.
On 10 May 1915, Mathison was killed by a stray shell fragment at Cape Helles
. He was evacuated to Deaconesses Hospital, Alexandria
, Egypt, where he died of his wounds on 18 May 1915, and was buried in Chatby War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria.
The University of Melbourne established a triennial lecture on medical research in Mathison's honour using an endowment from friends of Mathison. A bequest from Mary Mathison in memory of her son was used to establish the Gordon Clunes Mathison Research Scholarship at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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...
(born 1883 in Stanley, Victoria
Stanley, Victoria
Stanley is a small town approximately from Beechworth in Victoria noted for its apple & nut farms. At the 2006 census, Stanley had a population of 690.The town was formerly known as Snake Gully...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, died 1915 in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
) was a physician and medical researcher. He was appointed as the first director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research is Australia's oldest medical research institute.In 2011, the institute is home to more than 650 researchers who are working to understand, prevent and treat diseases including blood, breast and ovarian cancers; inflammatory diseases such as...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia, but died from wounds received in the Battle of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
before taking up the position.
Education
Mathison attended Caulfield Grammar SchoolCaulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
from 1896 to 1900, where his scholarship and good character were later remembered. From 1901 to 1905 Mathison studied medicine at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where he received many academic awards.
Medical research
Mathison's research career began as a University of Melbourne Scholar studying physiology. In 1907 he travelled to England to take up an appointment as a Sharpey Scholar at University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He received a Beit Memorial Fellowship in 1910 to conduct research at University College Hospital, where he was awarded a DSc for his research into the physiology of respiration. During this period he focused on the effects of asphyxia, and was commissioned by the Royal Society to investigate the causes of altitude sickness.
In September 1913 Mathison was appointed Sub-Director of Pathology and Sub-Dean of the Clinical School at the Melbourne Hospital
Royal Melbourne Hospital
The Royal Melbourne Hospital , located in Parkville, Victoria an inner suburb of Melbourne is one of Australia’s leading public hospitals. It is a major teaching hospital for tertiary health care with a reputation in clinical research...
. On 23 April 1915 Mathison was nominated as the first director of the nascent Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research is Australia's oldest medical research institute.In 2011, the institute is home to more than 650 researchers who are working to understand, prevent and treat diseases including blood, breast and ovarian cancers; inflammatory diseases such as...
, but did not survive to take up the position, which was later offered to Dr Sydney Patterson
Sydney Patterson
Sydney Wentworth Patterson MB BS, MD, DSc, FRCP was a physician, medical researcher and first director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia.-Education:...
.
Military Service
While in the United Kingdom, Mathison had been active in the University of London Officers’ Training Corps In August 1914, soon after the outbreak of the World War IWorld 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...
, he enlisted in the 2nd Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps. He embarked with his unit on HMAT A18 Wiltshire from Melbourne to Egypt on 19 October 1914. Mathison was attached as a medical officer to the 5th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
at the time of the Battle of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
.
On 10 May 1915, Mathison was killed by a stray shell fragment at Cape Helles
Cape Helles
Cape Helles is the rocky headland at the south-westernmost tip of the Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey. It was the scene of heavy fighting between Turkish and British troops during the landing at Cape Helles at the beginning of the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915....
. He was evacuated to Deaconesses Hospital, Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt, where he died of his wounds on 18 May 1915, and was buried in Chatby War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria.
The University of Melbourne established a triennial lecture on medical research in Mathison's honour using an endowment from friends of Mathison. A bequest from Mary Mathison in memory of her son was used to establish the Gordon Clunes Mathison Research Scholarship at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research