George Douglas Robb

Last updated

Sir George Douglas Robb CMG (1899–1974) was a New Zealand surgeon, medical reformer, writer, and university chancellor.

New Zealand Country in Oceania

New Zealand is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal, and plant life. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, while its most populous city is Auckland.

Contents

Career

He was born at Auckland on 29 April 1899 [1] and educated at the Auckland Grammar School and at the University of Otago (MB ChB). Robb had a reputation as something of a maverick and a rebel against the conventional medical establishment, as is discussed in a chapter in Brian Easton's book The Nationbuilders. [2]

Auckland Grammar School state secondary school in New Zealand

Auckland Grammar School (AGS) is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It has a roll of 2501 as of August 2018, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it New Zealand's largest single-sex school and placing it among the six largest schools in the country.

University of Otago university in New Zealand

The University of Otago is a collegiate university located in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It scores highly for average research quality, and in 2006 was second in New Zealand only to the University of Auckland in the number of A-rated academic researchers it employs. In the past it has topped the New Zealand Performance Based Research Fund evaluation.

Brian Easton is an economist from New Zealand. Was the economics columnist for the New Zealand Listener magazine for 37 years, giving him a high public profile nationally. He has held a number of university teaching posts and also works as an independent commentator. Easton is known for his criticism of economic orthodoxy.

Robb was influential in the formation of the Auckland Medical School as part of the University of Auckland. From 1961 to 1962, he held the year-long position of President of the British Medical Association. [3]

University of Auckland university in New Zealand

The University of Auckland is the largest university in New Zealand, located in the country's largest city, Auckland. It is the highest-ranked university in the country, being ranked 85th worldwide in the 2018/19 QS World University Rankings. Established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand, the university is made up of eight faculties; these are spread over six campuses. It has more than 40,000 students, and more than 30,000 "equivalent full-time" students.

The British Medical Association (BMA) is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association's headquarters are located in BMA House, Tavistock Square, London. Additionally, the association has national offices in Cardiff, Belfast, and Edinburgh, a European office in Brussels and a number of offices in English regions. The BMA has a range of representative and scientific committees and is recognised by National Health Service (NHS) employers as sole contract negotiators for doctors.

A series of annual lectures at the University of Auckland has been named after Doug Robb. [4]

In the 1956 New Year Honours Robb was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. [5] He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours. [6]

The New Year Honours 1956 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 2 January 1956 to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 1956.

Order of St Michael and St George series of appointments of an order of chivalry of the United Kingdom

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV, while he was acting as regent for his father, King George III.

The dignity of Knight Bachelor is the basic and lowest rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight, but Knights Bachelor rank below knights of chivalric orders.

Personal life

Robb was a close friend of the New Zealand poet and writer A. R. D. Fairburn, whose "To a Friend in the Wilderness" [7] was dedicated to Robb. On November 6, 1935, Robb married Helen Seabrook of Auckland. [8] His autobiography, Medical Odyssey was published in 1967 by Collins Bros. & Co. Ltd., Auckland. Appendix 1 (4 pp.) contains a bibliography of Robb's surgical and medical articles and other writings. W. B. Sutch wrote of Robb: "Robb, unhappy with the politicians, became a foremost thoracic surgeon, and a leader in medical education and research."--The Quest for Security in New Zealand, 1840-1966; Oxford, 1966; p. 248. [9]

A. R. D. Fairburn New Zealand poet

Arthur Rex Dugard "Rex" Fairburn was a New Zealand poet who was born and died in Auckland.

There is a bronze head (1956) and portrait (1961) of Sir Douglas Robb by John Francis Kavanagh in the University of Auckland Art Collection.

Douglas Robb died in his sleep on the morning of his 74th birthday. His widow, Lady Robb, died in the 1979 Mount Erebus disaster.

Related Research Articles

SS <i>Elingamite</i> ship

SS Elingamite was an Australian passenger steamer of 2,585 tons, built in 1887, and owned by Huddart Parker. The ship was wrecked on 9 November 1902 off the north coast of New Zealand carrying a large consignment of gold. Now the Elingamite wreck is a favourite site for adventurous divers because of the drama associated with it, and wild tales of lost treasure.

Arthur Porritt, Baron Porritt Viceroy, physician, athlete

Colonel Arthur Espie Porritt, Baron Porritt, was a New Zealand physician, military surgeon, statesman and athlete. He won a bronze medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in the 100 m sprint. He served as the 11th Governor-General of New Zealand from 1967 to 1972.

Brian Barratt-Boyes New Zealand heart surgeon

Sir Brian Gerald Barratt-Boyes was a pioneering heart surgeon from New Zealand.

Michael Bassett New Zealand politician

Michael Edward Rainton Bassett is a former Labour Party member of the New Zealand House of Representatives and cabinet minister in the reformist fourth Labour government. He is also a noted New Zealand historian, and has published a number of books on New Zealand politics, including biographies of Prime Ministers Peter Fraser, Gordon Coates and Joseph Ward.

Sir George Robert Laking was a New Zealand diplomat who served as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador to the United States, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Chief Ombudsman.

Dame Barbara Goodman was an Auckland, New Zealand politician.

Ron Bailey (politician) New Zealand politician

Ronald Leslie Bailey was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Hamish Henry Cordy Keith is a New Zealand writer, art curator, arts consultant and social commentator.

Peter Gluckman New Zealand biologist

Sir Peter David Gluckman, ONZ, KNZM, FRS, FMedSci, FRSNZ is a New Zealand scientist. Originally trained as a paediatrician, he served as the inaugural Chief Science Advisor to the New Zealand Prime Minister from 2009 to 2018. He is a founding member and current Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice, and is President-elect of the International Science Council.

Thomas Henry Logan was a New Zealand water polo player, swimmer, surf lifesaver, dentist and naval officer.

Nigel Raymond Latta, is a New Zealand psychologist and author. He is also the host of the television show Beyond The Darklands, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers and The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show. He revealed on The Hard Stuff with Nigel Latta that he had 3 stints at university from 1986-1995, two in Otago University in philosophy, zoology, and finished in Auckland University with BSc in clinical psychology and postgraduate diploma.

Dame Cecily Mary Wise Pickerill was a New Zealand plastic surgeon.

Leslie Cecil Lloyd Averill was a New Zealand soldier who served during the First World War on the Western Front. After the war, he became a doctor and established a private practice in his hometown of Christchurch. He also served as a medical administrator and community leader.

Edward Caradus New Zealand chemist

Edward Caradus was a New Zealand analytical chemist, educator and administrator. He developed a model for training aircrew during World War II. In 1949 he became the first chair of the National Trades Certification Board.

Edward Neill "Ted" Baker is a New Zealand scientist specialising in protein purification and crystallization and bioinformatics. He is currently a distinguished professor at the University of Auckland.

Sir Patrick William Eisdell Moore was a New Zealand surgeon and medical researcher. He was a pioneer in cochlear implants, and was the first person in the world to perform an eardrum transplant. He also served as a medical officer in World War II, and was the only Pākehā in the 28th Māori Battalion. His autobiography So Old So Quick was released in 2004.

The 1956 New Year Honours in New Zealand were appointments by Elizabeth II on the advice of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. The awards celebrated the passing of 1955 and the beginning of 1956, and were announced on 2 January 1956.

Fred Glasse

Alfred Onslow Glasse was a former Chief Engineer of the Auckland Electric Power Board who later became President of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers and later served as Deputy Mayor of Auckland City.

The Sir Douglas Robb Lectures are a lecture series that have existed at the University of Auckland in New Zealand since 1968. The series is named in honor of Sir Douglas Robb, and is noted for producing physicist Richard Feynman's QED lectures.

References

  1. ↑ Robb, Douglas (1967). Medical Odyssey. Collins Bros & Co., Ltd. p. 1.
  2. ↑ The Nationbuilders
  3. ↑ Robb, Douglas (1967). Medical Odyssey. Collins Bros & Co., Ltd.
  4. ↑ Robb Lectures; University of Auckland Archived 6 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine .
  5. ↑ "No. 40671". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1956. p. 43.
  6. ↑ "No. 42053". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1960. p. 4015.
  7. ↑ To a Friend in the Wilderness
  8. ↑ Robb, Douglas (1967). Medical Odyssey. Collins Bros & Co., Ltd. p. 57.
  9. ↑ Robb, Douglas (1967). Medical Odyssey. Collins Bros & Co., Ltd. p. appendix 2.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.