Prof Matthew Sydney Thomson

FRSE Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This soci ...

FRCPE (1894–1969) was a 20th-century British dermatologist. With his predecessor

August von Rothmund August von Rothmund (August 1, 1830 – October 27, 1906) was a German ophthalmologist from Volkach, Lower Franconia. In 1853 he received his doctorate from the University of Munich, and furthered his studies in Berlin under Albrecht von G ...

he gives his name to the skin condition,

Rothmund–Thomson syndrome Rothmund–Thomson syndrome (RTS) is a rare autosomal recessive skin condition. There have been several reported cases associated with osteosarcoma. A hereditary basis, mutations in the DNA helicase ''RECQL4'' gene, causing problems during initi ...

. He was affectionately known as "Tommy". He was President of the British Association of Dermatology in 1948.

Life

He was born at

Earlsfield Earlsfield is an area within the London Borough of Wandsworth, London, England. It is a typical London suburb and comprises mostly residential Victorian terraced houses with a high street of shops, bars, and restaurants between Garratt Lane, Al ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

on 7 November 1894. He was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School in London. He won a scholarship to

Cambridge University , 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 ...

where he first gained a general degree (MA) then this permitted him to study Medicine, gaining a further degree (ChB). He then undertook practical training at

King's College Hospital King's College Hospital is a major teaching hospital and major trauma centre in Denmark Hill, Camberwell in the London Borough of Lambeth, referred to locally and by staff simply as "King's" or abbreviated internally to "KCH". It is managed by K ...

in London. In the First World War he served as a Lieutenant in the

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...

. He gained his doctorate (MD) in 1918 and began to specialise in

dermatology Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. . It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medical ...

. He began lecturing in this subject at St John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin in London, also returning to King's College Hospital as a Physician. He became Consultant Dermatologist to

London County Council London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today kno ...

. He was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

in 1934. His proposers were

Cecil Wakeley Sir Cecil Pembrey Grey Wakeley, 1st Baronet KBE CB PRCS FRSE (5 May 1892 – 5 June 1979) was a 20th-century British surgeon. Life He was born the eldest son of 12 children at Meresborough House, a country estate near Rainham, Kent, the son of ...

, Reginald Gladstone,

Frederick Hobday Sir Frederick Thomas George Hobday CMG FRSE (4 November 1869 – 24 June 1939) was an innovative veterinary surgeon who served as President of the Royal Veterinary College 1927 to 1937. The college holds an annual lecture entitled the Frederick H ...

and

Frederick Gardiner Frederick Goldwin Gardiner, (January 21, 1895 – August 21, 1983) was a Canadians, Canadian politician, lawyer and businessman. He was the first Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, chairman of Metropolitan Toronto council, t ...

. In the Second World War he oversaw the casualty department at King's, caring for London's air-raid victims. In 1957 he became the Hunterian Professor at 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 ...

. He died on 26 April 1969.''The Medical Register'' 1969

Family

In 1912 he married Dora Alice Wallis.

References

1894 births 1969 deaths Alumni of the University of Cambridge British dermatologists Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh {{UK-med-bio-stub