Charles McNeil (physician)

Charles McNeil FRCPE FRCP RSE (21 September 1881–27 April 1964) was a physician specialising in paediatrics, in particular neonatal paediatrics. He was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of both London and Edinburgh, and was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh from 1940-1943.

Life

44 Heriot Row, Edinburgh

Charles McNeil was born on 21 September 1881 to Dr William McNeil, a general practitioner. He was educated at George Watson's College and then studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh where he graduated with an MA in 1901 and MBChB with First Class Honours in 1905. In 1908 McNeil was appointed assistant physician at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, and was later appointed paediatrician to the Royal Maternity Hospital. McNeil was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1913.[1]

At the outset of World War I, he was commissioned as a Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps[2] attached to the Scottish Branch of the British Red Cross Society, and from 1915-1918 was in command of the military hospital at Rouen.[3]

After World War I, McNeil returned to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, and also conducted a lectureship in children's diseases at the University of Edinburgh. On his retirement, Professor McNeil was given the honorary degree of LL.D by the University. In 1932 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were James Watt, Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer, Sir David Wilkie and Arthur Logan Turner. He resigned from the Society in 1948.[2]

McNeil was appointed Chair of Child Life and Health at the University of Edinburgh He also made attendance at the Sick Children's Hospital compulsory for medical students in their final year. McNeil joined the Simpson Maternity Hospital in 1934 and under his management the hospital experienced a decrease in mortality and morbidity rates.

McNeil was appointed President of the British Paediatric Association in 1941 and was also President of the Scottish Paediatric Association. He was President of the Royal College of Physician of Edinburgh from 1940-1943. From 1939-1945, McNeil assisted in the planning of the NHS. At this time he was living at 44 Heriot Row, a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh's New Town.[4] The house had previously belonged to the author Archibald Alison.[5]

He died on 27 April 1964.

Family

In 1919, Charles McNeil married Alice Hill Workman, daughter of Thomas Workman, a company director. They did not have any children.[1]

Lectureship

In 1967, £1,500 was gifted to the Royal College of Physician of Edinburgh for a lectureship in memory of its former President Dr Charles McNeil to cover any aspect of child life and health including education. The endowed lecture is carried out at the discretion of the council.

References

  1. 1 2 "Munks Roll Details for Charles McNeil". munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  2. 1 2 Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
  3. ↑ Scott-Moncreiff, George (1964). A Scottish Physician - Charles McNeil: An Appreciation.
  4. ↑ American Journal of Diseases of Children vol.62
  5. ↑ "Edinburgh Post Office annual directory, 1832-1833". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
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