John Sebastian Bach Stopford, Baron Stopford of Fallowfield KBE

FRCS Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) is a professional qualification to practise as a senior surgeon in Ireland or the United Kingdom. It is bestowed on an intercollegiate basis by the four Royal Colleges of Surgeons (the Royal C ...

FRCP FRS (25 June 1888 – 6 March 1961) was a British peer, a

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

and

anatomist Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having its ...

, and a

Vice-Chancellor A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system. In most Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth n ...

of the

University of Manchester , mottoeng = Knowledge, Wisdom, Humanity , established = 2004 – University of Manchester Predecessor institutions: 1956 – UMIST (as university college; university 1994) 1904 – Victoria University of Manchester 1880 – Victoria Univer ...

. Lord Stopford was described as "one of the greatest anatomists of this century".

Early life and education

Stopford was born in

Hindley Green Hindley Green is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. The population of the village had decreased to 11,186 at the 2011 Census. The village lies to the east of Hindley, Greater Manchester, Hindley and is c ...

near

Wigan Wigan ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Douglas, Lancashire, River Douglas. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. Bolton lies to the nor ...

, UK. The entry in the registry of births for Wigan, page 92 of volume 8c, 1888, records his birth name as John Sebastian B. Stopford, the son of Thomas Rinch Stopford, a colliery engineer, and his wife Mary (Tyrer) Stopford. He was educated at

Liverpool College Liverpool College is a school in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, England. It was one of the thirteen founding members of the Headmasters' Conference (HMC). History Liverpool College was the first of many public schools founded in the Victorian E ...

and

Manchester Grammar School The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) in Manchester, England, is the largest independent school (UK), independent day school for boys in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1515 as a Grammar school#free tuition, free grammar school next to Manchester C ...

. He entered to

Manchester University , mottoeng = Knowledge, Wisdom, Humanity , established = 2004 – University of Manchester Predecessor institutions: 1956 – UMIST (as university college; university 1994) 1904 – Victoria University of Manchester 1880 – Victoria Univer ...

in 1906 to read

medicine 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 ...

. He graduated with the degrees of

Bachelor of Medicine 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 ...

(MB) and

Bachelor of Surgery 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 ...

(ChB) in 1911 with honours.

Early career

Having graduated, Stopford went to

Rochdale Rochdale ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, at the foothills of the South Pennines in the dale on the River Roch, northwest of Oldham and northeast of Manchester. It is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough ...

Infirmary as a House Surgeon, and then to

Manchester Royal Infirmary Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) is a large NHS teaching hospital in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, England. Founded by Charles White in 1752 as part of the voluntary hospital movement of the 18th century, it is now a major regional and nati ...

as an Assistant Medical Officer. In 1912, he returned to

as a Junior Demonstrator in

Anatomy Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having its ...

, working under Prof.

Grafton Elliot Smith Sir Grafton Elliot Smith (15 August 1871 – 1 January 1937) was an Australian-British anatomist, Egyptologist and a proponent of the hyperdiffusionist view of prehistory. He believed in the idea that cultural innovations occur only once and ...

. He was later promoted to Senior Demonstrator, and received a

lectureship Lecturer is an academic rank Academic rank (also scientific rank) is the rank of a scientist or teacher in a college, high school, university or research establishment. The academic ranks indicate relative importance and power of individuals ...

in 1915. He also received the degree of

Doctor of Medicine Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin language, Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a profes ...

(MD) in 1915 with a Gold Medal for a thesis on the supply of blood to the brain. From 1915 to 1918 during 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 ...

, he served as a

neurologist Neurology (from el, νεῦρον (neûron), "string, nerve" and the suffix -logia, "study of") is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the brain, the spinal c ...

alongside his lectureship in the military orthopaedic centres. This was firstly to the Second Western General Hospital and secondly to the Grangethorpe Hospital. He began researching sensation in the peripheral nerves during this time, on a budget from the Ministry of Pensions that obtained for ten years.

Career progression

At just 31 years of age, Stopford was promoted to be Professor of Anatomy at the

in 1919 as Prof. Grafton Elliot Smith had moved to

University College Hospital University College Hospital (UCH) is a teaching hospital in the Fitzrovia area of the London Borough of Camden, England. The hospital, which was founded as the North London Hospital in 1834, is closely associated with University College London ...

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 ...

. During his tenure as Professor, he was

Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

of the Medical School twice: between 1923 and 1927, and again between 1931 and 1933. He was also Pro Vice-Chancellor at the

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

between 1928 and 1930. Stopford was appointed temporary

for six months in 1934 following the departure of Sir Walter Moberly. He made such a success of his time in the post that his appointment was made permanent, and he held it for a total of twenty-two years. He continued as Professor of Anatomy alongside his Vice-Chancellorship until 1938, when he was appointed to a personal Chair in Environmental

Neurology Neurology (from el, wikt:νεῦρον, νεῦρον (neûron), "string, nerve" and the suffix wikt:-logia, -logia, "study of") is the branch of specialty (medicine), medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of co ...

. In 1947 he was appointed the first chairman of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, which he served until 1953. He retired in 1956 and was made an

emeritus professor ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

Personal life

Stopford met Lily Allan while they were both

undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-lev ...

s at

. The couple were married in 1916 and they had one son, Thomas Stopford, who died in

Rhos on Sea Rhos-on-Sea ( cy, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos) is a seaside resort and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The population was 7,593 at the 2011 census. It adjoins Colwyn Bay and is named after the Welsh kingdom of Rhos established there in late ...

House of Lords

In 1958 he was nominated under the terms of Life Peerage Act by the Prime Minister to a receive letters patent, which duly arrived by 5 August. He was created Lord Stopford of Fallowfield and introduced on 10 March 1959 to the House of Lords to sit as a Crossbench peer. However during early retirement he had fallen ill. Lord Stopford never made a speech in the House, dying on 6 March 1961.

Other appointments

Stopford held a number of professional appointments during his lifetime, particularly in the field of healthcare within which he had particular experience. A selection of these appointments are below: * Chairman-elect, University Grants Committee - illness caused his resignation before he assumed office * Member,

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 ...

* Chairman, Business Committee, GMC * Chairman, Universities Bureau of the British Empire * Vice-Chairman, Trustees of the Nuffield Foundation * Vice-Chairman, Nuffield Hospital Fund * Vice-Chairman, Interdepartmental Committee on Medical Schools * Deputy Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals * Vice-President & Life Member,

Anatomical Society The Anatomical Society (AS), previously known as the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland or ASGBI was founded in London in 1887 to "promote, develop and advance research and education in all aspects of anatomical science". The society o ...

* Member, Ministry of Health Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards for Consultants * Member, Council of 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 ...

* Chairman, Manchester

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 ...

* Chairman, Manchester Royal College of Music.

Honours

Stopford was made a Fellow of the Royal Society ( FRS) in 1927; the first medical graduate from

to receive such an accolade. He was also made Honorary Advisory Anatomist at

. * 1920:

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 o ...

(MBE) * 1927: Fellowship (FRS) -

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

* 1937: ScD -

University of Dublin The University of Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Átha Cliath), corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dubl ...

* 1939: ScD -

University of Leeds , mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased , established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds , ...

* 1941:

Knighthood 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 church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...

* 1942: Honorary Fellowship (FRCP) -

* 1951: ScD -

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

* 1951; 1957: LLD and MA -

* 1953: LLD -

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 ...

* 1955:

Knight Commander 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 ...

(KBE) * 1955: Honorary Fellowship (FRCS) -

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 ...

* 1956: Freeman of

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

* 1957: DCL -

University of Durham Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charte ...

* 1958:

Life peerage In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages Ac ...

as Baron Stopford of Fallowfield, of

in the

County Palatine of Lancaster Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a Historic counties of England, historic county, Ceremonial County, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significa ...

(Created 5 August 1958)

Styles

* Mr John Stopford (1888-1911) * Dr John Stopford MB ChB (1911–1915) * Dr John Stopford MB ChB MD (1915–1918) * Dr John Stopford MB ChB MD MBE (1918–1919) * Professor John Stopford MB ChB MD MBE (1919–1927) * Professor John Stopford MB ChB MD MBE FRS (1927–1937) * Professor John Stopford MB ChB MD ScD MBE FRS (1937–1941) * Professor Sir John Stopford MB ChB MD ScD MBE FRS (1941–1942) * Professor Sir John Stopford MB ChB MD ScD MBE FRCP FRS (1942–1951) * Professor Sir John Stopford MB ChB MD ScD LLD MBE FRCP FRS (1951–1955) * Professor Sir John Stopford MB ChB MD ScD LLD KBE FRCP FRCS FRS (1955–1957) * Professor Sir John Stopford MB ChB MA MD ScD LLD DCL KBE FRCP FRCS FRS (1957–1958) * The Rt Hon The Lord Stopford of Fallowfield MB ChB MA MD ScD LLD DCL KBE FRCP FRCS FRS (1958–1961)

The Stopford Building, University of Manchester

The Medical School (1972) was given the name of the

Stopford Building The Stopford Building is the second largest building at The University of Manchester, after the Sackville Street Building. It houses the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH). It was built in 1969-72 (architects H. S. Fairhurst & Son) ...

in memory of Lord Stopford. It is on Oxford Road, on the corner of Ackers Street, and occupies a very large site. The former Medical Faculty Library housed within the building is now known as the Stopford Library: it is an outlying library of the

John Rylands University Library The University of Manchester Library is the library system and information service of the University of Manchester. The main library is on the Oxford Road campus of the university, with its entrance on Burlington Street. There are also ten other ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stopford, John 1888 births 1961 deaths People educated at Manchester Grammar School Alumni of the University of Manchester 20th-century English medical doctors Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians Fellows of the Royal Society Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Academics of the University of Manchester Vice-Chancellors of the Victoria University of Manchester Stopford of Fallowfield British anatomists People educated at Liverpool College Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons People from Hindley, Greater Manchester Life peers created by Elizabeth II