Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Sir Aldington George Curphey

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

MC ED (24 August 1880 – 28 November 1958) was an Anglo-Jamaican surgeon, medical officer and politician who served as President of the island's Legislative Council from 1952 to 1958. Sir Adlington George Curphey

Early life and family

Aldington George Curphey was born on 24 August 1880 in the

St Andrew Andrew the Apostle ( grc-koi, Ἀνδρέᾱς, Andréās ; la, Andrēās ; , syc, ܐܰܢܕ݁ܪܶܐܘܳܣ, ʾAnd’reʾwās), also called Saint Andrew, was an apostle of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is the brother of Simon Peter ...

parish of Kingston,

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

,"Curphey, Col Sir Aldington George"
''Who Was Who'' (online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2007). Retrieved 19 March 2018. to Thomas John Curphey and his wife Georgiana, ''née'' Cowell. His father had earlier emigrated from his native

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to become a chemist; Curphey's mother was the daughter of an English police officer."Sir Aldington Curphey", ''The Times'' (London) 3 December 1958, p. 13.

Career

Medicine

After attending

York Castle High School York Castle High School is a co-educational secondary school in Jamaica. The school has educated some of the region's best leaders and it continues to play a pivotal role in Jamaica's development. History On a hill side property by the name of ...

and Wolmer's School, Curphey went to

Queen's University, Canada Queen's University at Kingston, commonly known as Queen's University or simply Queen's, is a public research university in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Queen's holds more than of land throughout Ontario and owns Herstmonceux Castle in East Suss ...

, graduating with his medicine degrees (MD, CM) in 1907, and qualifying as a Licentiate of the

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of three organisations that sets the specialty training standards for physicians in the United Kingdom. It was established by Royal charter ...

(LRCP Ed), the

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) is a professional organisation of surgeons. The College has seven active faculties, covering a broad spectrum of surgical, dental, and other medical practices. Its main campus is located on ...

(LRCS Ed) and the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons (LRFPS) in 1909. He was held a number of posts at Saint Joseph's Hospital in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, and was coroner for Wentworth County, but in 1912 he entered the Jamaica Medical Service to become Medical Officer for Health for

Saint Ann Parish Saint Ann is the largest parish in Jamaica. It is situated on the north coast of the island, in the county of Middlesex, roughly halfway between the eastern and western ends of the island. It is often called "the Garden Parish of Jamaica" on ac ...

;"Sir Aldington Curphey"
''

The British Medical Journal ''The BMJ'' is a weekly peer-reviewed medical trade journal, published by the trade union the British Medical Association (BMA). ''The BMJ'' has editorial freedom from the BMA. It is one of the world's oldest general medical journals. Origina ...

'', 13 December 1958, p. 1477. he also began work at

Spanish Town Hospital Spanish Town Hospital is a hospital in Spanish Town, Jamaica. It is located near the city center. 2007 incident On 24 June 2007, the Danish singer Natasja Saad Natasja Saad (31 October 1974 – 24 June 2007), also known as Dou T, Little T an ...

and Lepers' Home. He remained a Government Medical Officer on the island until 1936. In the meantime, Curphey served in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

as a medical officer attached to the Jamaica War Contingent; he was commissioned into the

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...

as a captain, and won the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

. On demobilisation, Curphey set up his own medical practice in Saint Ann. At the onset of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Curphey became a Senior Military Medical Officer for Jamaica and took the rank of Surgeon-Major in the Local Forces (he was later made an Honorary

); from 1944 to 1949 was also Welfare Officer for the Caribbean Area.

Public service

Curphey's entry into public service began in 1936 when he was elected to Saint Ann's Parish Board. The following year, he became its Vice-Chairman and in 1944 Chairman. In 1945, he became a member of the Jamaican Legislative Council. In 1952, he was elected President of the Legislative Council, and served in the office until his death. He had been President of the Jamaica branch of the

British Medical Association The British Medical Association (BMA) is a 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 headquar ...

in 1937 and had held a range of other public and philanthropic offices. He was one of the island's representatives at the

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II The coronation of Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London. She acceded to the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, being proclaimed queen by her privy and executive ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in 1953.

Curphey was appointed a Member of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(MBE) in 1944 and promoted to Commander (CBE) in 1952; he was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

six years later. He died on 28 November 1958, leaving behind his widow, Winifred May ''née'' Douët, and their daughter.

Honours

Order of the British Empire (Civil) Ribbon

Ribbon - Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)

UK King George VI Coronation Medal ribbon

References

{{Reflist 1880 births 1958 deaths Politicians from Kingston, Jamaica Political office-holders in Jamaica Knights Bachelor Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Military Cross Queen's University at Kingston alumni Royal Army Medical Corps officers