Lord Moran
Encyclopedia
Charles McMoran Wilson, 1st Baron Moran, MC
(10 November 1882 – 12 April 1977) is most famous for being Sir Winston Churchill's
personal physician.
Born in Skipton, Yorkshire
, he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps
during the First World War. He won the Military Cross
in 1916.
Moran's book, The Struggle for Survival is about Churchill during and after the war. It describes his failing health in detail. The book was published fifteen months after Churchill's death and caused a great deal of controversy as a result of what was seen as a breach of patient-physician confidentiality.
He was the Dean of St Mary's Hospital Medical School
between 1920 and 1945, where he oversaw the rebuilding of the premises. He was a prominent scientist in his day, and was elected President of the Royal College of Physicians
in April 1941 and was re-elected each year until 1950, when he resigned in favour of Russell Brain.
He was knighted
in 1942 and created Baron Moran
in the New Year honours of 1943 and made his maiden speech in the House of Lords
, the same year, on the Beveridge Report
. He was also involved in many other debates on the National Health Service
.
Lord Moran had two sons, John
(the present Baron) and Geoffrey. He was survived by his wife Dorothy (née Dufton), who died in 1983.
During his time as Sir Winston Churchill's private doctor he met several prominent figures, such as Anthony Eden
, Field-Marshal Montgomery
(later the 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein) and Lord Mountbatten of Burma
.
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....
(10 November 1882 – 12 April 1977) is most famous for being Sir Winston Churchill's
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
personal physician.
Born in Skipton, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, he served in 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...
during the First World War. He won 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....
in 1916.
Moran's book, The Struggle for Survival is about Churchill during and after the war. It describes his failing health in detail. The book was published fifteen months after Churchill's death and caused a great deal of controversy as a result of what was seen as a breach of patient-physician confidentiality.
He was the Dean of St Mary's Hospital Medical School
St Mary's Hospital Medical School
St Mary's is the youngest of the constituent schools of Imperial College, London, founded in 1854 as part of the new hospital in Paddington. During its existence in the 1980s and 90s, it was the most popular medical school in the country, with an application to place ratio of 27:1 in 1996.St Mary's...
between 1920 and 1945, where he oversaw the rebuilding of the premises. He was a prominent scientist in his day, and was elected President 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 April 1941 and was re-elected each year until 1950, when he resigned in favour of Russell Brain.
He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1942 and created Baron Moran
Baron Moran
Baron Moran, of Manton in the County of Wiltshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.It was created on 8 March 1943 for the physician Charles Wilson...
in the New Year honours of 1943 and made his maiden speech in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, the same year, on the Beveridge Report
Beveridge Report
The Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Social Insurance and Allied Services, known commonly as the Beveridge Report was an influential document in the founding of the Welfare State in the United Kingdom...
. He was also involved in many other debates on the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
.
Lord Moran had two sons, John
John Wilson, 2nd Baron Moran
Richard John McMoran Moran Wilson, 2nd Baron Moran KCMG , known as John Wilson, is a British soldier and diplomat. He is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers in the House of Lords, remaining after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999...
(the present Baron) and Geoffrey. He was survived by his wife Dorothy (née Dufton), who died in 1983.
During his time as Sir Winston Churchill's private doctor he met several prominent figures, such as Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
, Field-Marshal Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
(later the 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein) and Lord Mountbatten of Burma
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
.
Works
- The Anatomy of Courage (1945), ConstableArchibald ConstableArchibald Constable was a Scottish publisher, bookseller and stationer.He was born at Carnbee, Fife, as the son of the land steward to the Earl of Kellie. In 1788 Archibald was apprenticed to Peter Hill, an Edinburgh bookseller, but in 1795 he started in business for himself as a dealer in rare...
, ISBN 0094513902 - Winston Churchill: The Struggle for Survival (1966) Constable, ISBN 0786717068
- Churchill at War 1940 to 1945: the memoirs of Churchill's doctor, with an introduction by Lord Moran's son, John, the present Lord Moran. This diary paints an intimate portrait of Churchill by Sir Charles Wilson, his personal physician (Lord Moran), who spent the war years with the Prime Minister. In his diary, Moran recorded insights into Churchill's character, and moments when he let his guard down. Carroll & Graf, 2002. Reissue ISBN 0-7867-1041-1