Sir James Rögnvald Learmonth (1895–1967)
Sir James Rögnvald Learmonth (1895–1967) held the Chair of Systematic Surgery at the University of Edinburgh (1939-1956) and the Regius Chair of Clinical Surgery (1946-1956).
Early Years
Learmonth was born on 23 March 1895 in Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkudbrightshire, the eldest son of William Learmonth and his wife Katherine (née Craig). Learmonth's distinctive middle name was a result of his father's upbringing in Stromness, Orkney. He was educated at Girthon school, where his father was headmaster, before moving on to Kilmarnock Academy to study Greek.
In 1913, Learmonth commenced his medicine degree at the University of Glasgow. Learmonth's first year ended with him being awarded the class medal in zoology, the Joseph Black Medal in chemistry, the class medal for medical physics, first place in practical anatomy and the Arnott Prize for general physics. Like many others of his generation, Learmonth put his studies on hold at the outbreak of World War I, and was commissioned in the King's Own Scottish Borderers, serving in France. By the end of World War I, Learmonth was a captain. This was in part thanks to his devising a trench anemometer to measure wind force in the trenches following his experience of gas warfare.
Pre-Edinburgh Career
Learmonth returned to his studies after the war, winning medals in physiology, midwifery and clinical surgery. He graduated MB ChB with honours in 1921, winning the Brunton medal for outstanding student of the year. After graduating, Learmonth held house-officer appointments at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, before working as a research assistant for Professor Archibald Young and securing a Rockefeller fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, 1924-1925, where he specialised in neurosurgical research. While working at the Mayo Clinic, Learmonth met and married Charlotte Newell, director of social services at the clinic. The marriage produced two children, James and Jean.
Learmonth returned to Glasgow, accepting the post of assistant to the Professor of Surgery at the Western Infirmary from 1925-1928. He obtained his ChM in 1927 from the University of Glasgow, and was conferred FRCS (Edinburgh) the following year. He was then offered a post at the neurosurgical department at the Mayo Clinic, during which time he also studied the bladder and blood vessels, and remained there until 1932 when he accepted the Regius Chair in Surgery at the University of Aberdeen
Learmonth at Edinburgh University
At the onset of the Second World War, Learmonth left Aberdeen to take the Chair of Systematic Surgery at the University of Edinburgh, also taking the Regius Chair of Clinical Surgery in 1946. He was made CBE in 1945, and was later knighted in the bedroom of King George VI after operating on the King, who had been suffering from a disease of the arteries. He retired in 1956 at the age of sixty-one, and moved to Broughton in Lanarkshire. In 1967, he was diagnosed with carcinoma of the lung. He died at home on 27 September 1967.
Key Dates
- 1895 - Born, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkudbrightshire, 23 March
- 1914-1918 - Commissioned in the King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 1921 - Graduated MB ChB with Honours, University of Glasgow
- 1924-1925 - Rockefeller fellowship, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, United States
- 1925-1928 Assistant to the Professor of Surgery, Western Infirmary, Glasgow
- 1927 - Graduated ChM, University of Glasgow
- 1928 - Conferred FRCS (Edinburgh)
- 1928-1932 - Worked in neurosurgical department, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, United States
- 1932-1939 - Regius Chair of Surgery, University of Aberdeen
- 1939-1956 - Chair of Systematic Surgery, University of Edinburgh
- 1945 - Appointed CBE
- 1946-1956 - Regius Chair of clinical surgery, University of Edinburgh
- 1949 - Appointed KCVO
- 1967 - Death, Broughton, Lanarkshire, 27 September