John Howard Lidgett Cumpston (19 June 18809 October 1954) was a senior Australian public servant, and first Director-General of the

Department of Health A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their ow ...

Life and career

John Cumpston was born in South Yarra, Melbourne on 19 June 1880, to parents Elizabeth Cumpston (née Newman) and George William Cumpston. He attended Wesley College and went on to study medicine at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb no ...

(1898-1902). His interests were in public health and preventative medicine. He was appointed medical officer to the central board of health in Western Australia in 1907. In 1921, he was appointed the first Director-General of the Australian Government's

. Cumpston retired in May 1945, ahead of his term expiring on 18 June that year. In 1949, he accepted a position in Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon), advising on the introduction of a new health scheme for the country. He married Gladys Maeva, the daughter of Dr G. A. Walpole of Gormanston, Tasmania, on 2 January 1908. Among their seven children was Ina Mary, an academic historian of British imperialism, and John Stanley, diplomat, author and publisher. Cumpston died in Forrest, Canberra on 9 October 1954, and was cremated.

Awards

In March 1929, Cumpston was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for services as Director-General of Health and Quarantine.

References

External links

* 1880 births 1954 deaths Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George People educated at Wesley College (Victoria) Secretaries of the Australian Government Health Department University of Melbourne alumni {{Australia-gov-bio-stub 20th-century Australian public servants People from South Yarra, Victoria Public servants from Melbourne