Sir Thomas George Roddick (July 31, 1846 – February 20, 1923) was a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
surgeon, medical administrator, politician, and founder of the
Medical Council of Canada
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC; french: Conseil médical du Canada, CMC) is an organization charged with the partial assessment and evaluation of medical graduates and physicians through standardized examination. It grants the qualification c ...
born in
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland
Harbour Grace is a town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With roots dating back to the 16th century, it is one of the oldest towns in North America.
It is located about northwest of ...
He is known for his work in helping pass the "Roddick Bill" or the "Canada Medical Act" which through the
Medical Council of Canada
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC; french: Conseil médical du Canada, CMC) is an organization charged with the partial assessment and evaluation of medical graduates and physicians through standardized examination. It grants the qualification c ...
created standard national medical licensing process for medical practice in every province in Canada.
Medical service
Thomas George Roddick attended the
Model and Normal Schools in
Truro, Nova Scotia
Truro (Mi'kmaq: ''Wagobagitik''; Scottish Gaelic: ''Truru'') is a town in central Nova Scotia, Canada. Truro is the shire town of Colchester County and is located on the south side of the Salmon River floodplain, close to the river's mouth at ...
and graduated from the Medical Faculty of
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...
in 1868 with the highest honours, winning the Holmes Gold Medal and Final Prize. From 1868 to 1874, he was Assistant House Surgeon at the
Montreal General Hospital
The Montreal General Hospital (MGH) (french: Hôpital Général de Montréal) is a hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada established in the years 1818-1820. The hospital received its charter in 1823. It is currently part of the McGill University ...
. In 1872, he was appointed Lecturer on Hygiene at McGill University. He was appointed a Demonstrator of Anatomy in 1874 and in 1875 was named Professor of Clinical Surgery. Earlier in 1877, Roddick traveled to Edinburgh to witness
Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister, (5 April 182710 February 1912) was a British surgeon, medical scientist, experimental pathologist and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery and preventative medicine. Joseph Lister revolutionised the craft of s ...
's medical antiseptic system. Roddick returned to Montreal later that year and introduced
Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister, (5 April 182710 February 1912) was a British surgeon, medical scientist, experimental pathologist and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery and preventative medicine. Joseph Lister revolutionised the craft of s ...
's antiseptic system, primarily his 'carbolic spray,' revolutionizing the way medicine was practiced in Montreal's Hospitals.
In 1894 Roddick, with the aid of fellow specialist James Bell, created the Department of Surgery and became the first chief surgeon of the
Royal Victoria Hospital. However, by 1901 Roddick found himself no longer able to practice surgery, having become allergic to the new antiseptic replacing the carbolic acid he had introduced to Montreal, iodoform. He was instead given the position of Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University from 1901 to 1908, where he could contribute to medicine without practicing surgery. In subsequent years Roddick would play an instrumental role in the creation of the
Medical Council of Canada
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC; french: Conseil médical du Canada, CMC) is an organization charged with the partial assessment and evaluation of medical graduates and physicians through standardized examination. It grants the qualification c ...
as well as establishing a common system of examinations for students graduating with medical degrees in Canada.
Military service
He has served on the Militia Force as Assistant Surgeon Grand Trunk Rifle Brigade, and Surgeon Major Prince of Wales Rifles. On the outbreak of the
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion (french: Rébellion du Nord-Ouest), also known as the North-West Resistance, was a resistance by the Métis people under Louis Riel and an associated uprising by First Nations Cree and Assiniboine of the District of S ...
in 1885, he was selected to take charge of medical affairs in the field, with the rank of Deputy-Surgeon General of Militia. He organized the hospitals and medical service for the Expeditionary Force, and was recommended for C.M.G. by the General in command.
Political service
He was elected to the
House of Commons of Canada
The House of Commons of Canada (french: Chambre des communes du Canada) is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada.
The House of Common ...
for the riding of St. Antoine in the
1896 federal election. A
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
he was re-elected in
1900
As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15), 2 ...
. Roddick was instrumental, after an arduous 18-year campaign, in helping pass the "Roddick Bill" or ''Canada Medical Act'' which created a national medical licensing standard that allowed physicians to practice in every province in Canada. With the creation of the
Medical Council of Canada
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC; french: Conseil médical du Canada, CMC) is an organization charged with the partial assessment and evaluation of medical graduates and physicians through standardized examination. It grants the qualification c ...
in 1912 Roddick was named first on the Canadian Medical Register.
He was President of the Canadian Medical Association and President of the British Medical Association. He was knighted in 1914.
Family
He was married to Urelia M McKinnon of
Pointe-Claire, Quebec
Pointe-Claire (, ) is a Quebec local municipality within the Urban agglomeration of Montreal on the Island of Montreal in Canada. It is entirely developed, and land use includes residential, light manufacturing, and retail. As of the 2021 cen ...
in 1880, but she died in Montreal in 1890. Then Amy Redpath Roddick became the second wife of Thomas Roddick on September 3, 1906. Amy Redpath Roddick (May 16, 1868 - February 16, 1954) was the first-born child and only daughter of Ada Mills and
John James Redpath
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
.
Death and controversy
Sir Thomas Roddick died on February 20, 1923 and was buried at
Mount Royal Cemetery
Opened in 1852, Mount Royal Cemetery is a terraced cemetery on the north slope of Mount Royal in the borough of Outremont in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Temple Emanu-El Cemetery, a Reform Judaism burial ground, is within the Mount Royal grounds. Th ...
on February 22. However upon reading his Will on February 26, six days after his death and four days after his burial, the executors of his Will realized his final wishes had been to be cremated and demanded Sir Thomas be exhumed and cremated according to his wishes. Lady Roddick staunchly opposed his exhumation, stating her husband's final wishes had changed shortly before his death. The case was brought before the Quebec Superior Court and was successfully contested by Lady Roddick.
Roddick is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery in section L1 1, where Lady Roddick erected a family funerary monument for her husband which mirrored that which she had erected at McGill University in his honor, the
Roddick Gates
The Roddick Gates, also known as the Roddick Memorial Gates, are monumental gates in Montreal that serve as the main entrance to the McGill University downtown campus. They are located on Sherbrooke Street West and are at the northern end of t ...
.
Honours
*Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital built in early 1950s by the American Government in Newfoundland is named in his honour.
*McGill University's
Roddick Gates
The Roddick Gates, also known as the Roddick Memorial Gates, are monumental gates in Montreal that serve as the main entrance to the McGill University downtown campus. They are located on Sherbrooke Street West and are at the northern end of t ...
were erected by Amy Redpath Roddick and named in his honour.
[Young, Brian J., Respectable burial Montreal's Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, QC: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2003, 137]
*Roddick fountain, in
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland
Harbour Grace is a town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With roots dating back to the 16th century, it is one of the oldest towns in North America.
It is located about northwest of ...
, is named in his honour.
*He was knighted in 1914
References
*
Roddick Gates & Gatehouse (demolished)*
External links
*
Thomas George Roddickat
The Canadian Encyclopedia
''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; french: L'Encyclopédie canadienne) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with the support of Canadian Heritage.
Available fo ...
Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roddick, Thomas
1846 births
1923 deaths
Canadian Knights Bachelor
Canadian surgeons
Canadian university and college faculty deans
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) MPs
Nova Scotia Teachers College alumni
McGill University Faculty of Medicine alumni
McGill University faculty
Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Quebec
People from Harbour Grace
Burials at Mount Royal Cemetery