Gilbert Innes Strachan,

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 ...

(August 1888 - 9 December 1963) was a prominent British researcher and professor of medicine.

Early life and education

Born in Bristol to James and Agnes ( Todd) Strachan, he graduated from the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

with an M.B., Ch.B. in 1910, followed by his doctorate in 1913. Strachan then worked in the London Hospital before serving 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 captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Post-war, Strachan moved to Cardiff in 1919 to study abortions whilst working as an assistant pathologist. He was present and involved in the establishment of Cardiff's clinical school, working as an assistant to Sir Ewen Maclean at this time.

Career in medicine

In 1932, the

Welsh National School of Medicine The Cardiff University School of Medicine ( cy, Ysgol Feddygaeth Prifysgol Caerdydd) is the medical school of Cardiff University and is located in Cardiff, Wales, UK. Founded in 1893 as part of the University College of South Wales and Monmouth ...

promoted Strachan to Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. As part of this role, Strachan was said to be an inspiring lecturer. He retained his post until his retirement in 1953, though he also owned a private practice and worked in research. His most notable research includes his influence in the advancement of radium treatment for cancer of the womb, documented in his published works on the subject, namely in his ''Textbook of Obstetrics'' (1947). He was thus in demand as an examiner in his area of expertise, working for the universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford and Wales. He also travelled to Australia in 1950 where he lectured and examined students in Sydney and Melbourne, representing the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Strachan was a founding member of this institution and, in 1952-55, vice-president. In 1953, he received the

Personal life

Strachan developed a collection of Spode porcelain and china, which he donated to the

National Museum of Wales National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

. In 1920, he married Olive Andrews, daughter of F.E. Andrews, with whom he had a son. He died in his home at 29

Cathedral Road, Cardiff Cathedral Road () is one of the major roads of western Cardiff, Wales, passing through the suburb of Pontcanna. It forms part of the A4119 road from Cardiff Bay to Tonypandy and houses which are not lived in have been converted to profession ...

, on 9 December 1963, aged 75.

References

* ''The Times'', 14 Dec. 1963;
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Biography.wales. Accessed 16 December 2022. {{DEFAULTSORT:Strachan, Gilbert Welsh scientists 1888 births 1963 deaths 20th-century Welsh scientists 20th-century Welsh educators Commanders of the Order of the British Empire