Biography of George Henry Edington

George Henry Edington first graduated from the University MBChB in 1891. He was born on 10 January 1870 to George, an iron founder, and Charlotte Jane.

Edington was educated at Kelvinside Academy and matriculated at the University aged 17 to study for a medical degree. He took classes in Anatomy, Botany, Forensic Medicine, won a medal in Clinical Medicine, and was awarded a commendation for Surgery and first class certificate in Diseases of Women. Edington graduated MBChB in 1891, and was awarded MD with commendation in 1895. In 1897 he was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Faculty at Glasgow.

His medical career extremely varied, serving as a senior demonstrator of anatomy and later as Professor of surgery at Anderson College.

In 1901 he joined the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps, becoming Captain in 1904. He then became Major, Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial) in 1908, commanded the detachment at the coronation in 1911, and became a Lt. Col. in 1912.

He also worked for a time as a lecturer and examiner in surgery at the University, and was on the staff of the Western Infirmary. During his time at the Western Infirmary he worked with Sir William Macewen, and succeeded Sir George Thomas Beatson as surgeon in 1913. He received his DSc from the University in 1913 for his thesis entitled Congenital occlusions of the oesophagus and lesser bowel in the human subject.

During the First World War he commanded the 1st Lowland Field Ambulance and landed with the 52nd Division at Gallipoli. When forces were withdrawn from the peninsula he went on to Egypt, in time commanding the 78th General Hospital in Egypt. In 1920 he became Assistant Director of Medical Services, of Lowland Divisions, and retired as Hon. Colonel RAMC(T).

A well respected member of the medical community, Edington served as Honorary Physician to King George V from 1922-1927. He was President of both the Glasgow Medico-Chirurgical Society and the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow 1928 to 1940. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1942. Edington was also an active citizen, working for a time as Deputy Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace for the City and County of Glasgow.

George H Edington died in 1943 and his Glasgow Medical Journal obituary reads that "No case was too trivial, no problem too intricate, for his carefully considered option".

Summary

George Henry Edington
Born 10 January 1870.
Died 24 September 1943.
University Link: Graduate, Lecturer
GU Degrees: MBCM, 1891; MD, 1895; DSc, 1913;
Additional Information: R3/1/1 (vol 2), R3/2/1
Record last updated: 25th Apr 2017

University Connections

University Roles

• Graduate [View George Henry Edington's record in the list of graduates]
• Lecturer

Buildings

• Western Infirmary

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George Henry Edington