Henry Cohen, 1st Baron Cohen of Birkenhead (21 February 1900 – 7 August 1977) was a British physician, doctor and lecturer. He was famous for his
Harveian Oration
The Harveian Oration is a yearly lecture held at the Royal College of Physicians of London. It was instituted in 1656 by William Harvey, discoverer of the systemic circulation. Harvey made financial provision for the college to hold an annual fea ...
at the
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...
in 1970, on the motion of blood in the veins. Cohen was elected to the chair of medicine at the
University of Liverpool
, mottoeng = These days of peace foster learning
, established = 1881 – University College Liverpool1884 – affiliated to the federal Victoria Universityhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2004/4 University of Manchester Act 200 ...
in 1934. When the
Central Health Services Council was formed in 1949, he became its vice-chairman, and chairman in 1957. Knighted in 1949, he was President 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 ...
from 1951. After a
coronary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis is defined as the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel of the heart. This blood clot may then restrict blood flow within the heart, leading to heart tissue damage, or a myocardial infarction, also known as a heart at ...
in the following year, Cohen decided to devote his life to the greater work of teaching. He was raised to the
peerage
A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted noble ranks.
Peerages include:
Australia
* Australian peers
Belgium
* Belgi ...
as Baron Cohen of Birkenhead, of Birkenhead in the County Palatine of Chester, on 16 June 1956 and was elected President of the
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council (GMC) is a public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom. Its chief responsibility is to "protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public" by c ...
in 1961. In 1964, he became President of the
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) is a medical society in the United Kingdom, headquartered in London.
History
The Society was established in 1805 as Medical and Chirurgical Society of London, meeting in two rooms in barristers’ chambers ...
, receiving the society's gold medal in 1971. He also opened the assembly hall of the
King David School, Liverpool.
Background
Henry Cohen was born in
Birkenhead
Birkenhead (; cy, Penbedw) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England; historically, it was part of Cheshire until 1974. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the south bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liver ...
on 21 February 1900. One of his teachers at the church school described him as showing 'signs of genius when most boys are only beginning to show signs of intelligence'. He attended the Birkenhead Institute on a scholarship, and captained its cricket and rugby teams.
Cohen won a scholarship to the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
, but for reasons of expense attended the
University of Liverpool
, mottoeng = These days of peace foster learning
, established = 1881 – University College Liverpool1884 – affiliated to the federal Victoria Universityhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2004/4 University of Manchester Act 200 ...
. He graduated
MB ChB
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery ( la, Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae; abbreviated most commonly MBBS), is the primary medical degree awarded by medical schools in countries that follow the tradition of the United King ...
in 1922 with first class honours and distinction in all his courses. He studied at the
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
and
University of Paris
, image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of Arms
, latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis
, motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin)
, mottoeng = Here and a ...
, obtaining his MD with special merit in 1924. In 1924 he became assistant physician at the
Liverpool Royal Infirmary
The Liverpool Royal Infirmary was a hospital in Pembroke Place in Liverpool, England. The building is now used by the University of Liverpool.
History
The infirmary has its origins in a small building on Shaw's Brow which was opened by the 11th ...
, where he was to remain on the staff for 41 years.
Honours and Distinctions
Cohen was appointed to the chair of medicine at Liverpool in 1934, a part-time position, enabling him to follow up the results of his teaching by keeping in contact with local colleagues and practitioners. Between 1947 and 1971 he served as a member of the board of governors of the Liverpool teaching hospitals and of the
regional hospital board
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
.
In 1954 Cohen was elected president of the
Liverpool Medical Institution
The Liverpool Medical Institution is a historic medical organisation based in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Its building on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Hope Street was opened in 1837, but the site has been used as a medical library since 1779. ...
. Cohen was elected president of the
Royal Society of Health
Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is an independent, multi-disciplinary charity dedicated to the improvement of the public's health.
RSPH helps inform policy and practice, working to educate, empower and support communities and individuals ...
in 1958, where he served four 5-year terms. He was invested as an associate
Knight of the Order of St John
The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headq ...
in 1961, the same year he was elected president of the
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council (GMC) is a public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom. Its chief responsibility is to "protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public" by c ...
.
In 1963 he received the honorary FRCPS
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, the honorary FFARCS and the honorary LLD
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 December he retired from the chairmanship of the Central Health Services Council and of the Standing
Medical Advisory Committee
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pract ...
of the
Ministry of Health. In March 1964 he was elected to honorary fellowship of the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is a professional association based in London, United Kingdom. Its members, including people with and without medical degrees, work in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, that is ...
. He retired from the chair of medicine at Liverpool in 1965.
In July 1966 he received the honorary doctorates from the universities of
Hull and
Sussex
Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...
. He won the Gold Medal of the BMA in 1967 in recognition of his outstanding services to the Association and to the medical profession. The honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law was conferred on him by
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
in 1968, the following year he was elected an honorary fellow of the
Royal College of Surgeons
The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations a ...
and in 1970 he was elected Chancellor of Hull University. He was appointed
Companion of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded on 4 June 1917 by King George V as a reward for outstanding achievements. Founded on the same date as the Order of the British Empire, it is sometimes ...
in 1974.
Lord Cohen Medal
Lord Cohen Medal The Lord Cohen Medal is a British medical award honouring individuals who "have made a considerable contribution to ageing research, either through original discoveries or in the promotion of the subject of gerontology in its broadest aspect". It is ...
, named after him, is awarded to individuals who "have made a considerable contribution to ageing research, either through original discoveries or in the promotion of the subject of gerontology in its broadest aspect." It is the highest award for services to
gerontology
Gerontology ( ) is the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of aging. The word was coined by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov in 1903, from the Greek , ''geron'', "old man" and , ''-logia'', "study of". The fie ...
in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
and is awarded on a sporadic basis by the
British Society for Research on Ageing
The British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA) is a scientific society (registered charity no. 1174127) which promotes research to understand the causes and effects of the ageing process. The BSRA encourages publication and public understan ...
.
Lord Cohen of Birkenhead died on 7 August 1977, aged 77, after a short illness, at
Bath, Somerset
Bath () is a city in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary area in the county of Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. At the 2021 Census, the population was 101,557. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, ...
when the peerage became extinct.. Cohen has a lecture theatre named after him in the Duncan Building belonging to the University of Liverpool.
Cohen was known for his quote "The feasibility of an operation is not the best indication for its performance".
References
*
External links
British Society for Research on Ageing - Lord Cohen Medal
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen Of Birkenhead, Henry Cohen, 1st Baron
1900 births
1977 deaths
English Jews
Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour
Academics of the University of Liverpool
20th-century British medical doctors
Presidents of the British Medical Association
Presidents of the Royal Society of Medicine
Jewish British politicians
Chairs of the General Medical Council
Presidents of the History of Medicine Society
Hereditary barons created by Elizabeth II