James Barr (physician)

Sir James Barr
Sir James Barr

Sir James Barr FRCP FRSE CBE DL LLD (25 September 1849 - 16 November 1938) was an Ulster-born physician, who rose to be President of the British Medical Association and is noted for his work on the medical care of prisoners.

Life

He was born in Cumber, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, the son Samuel Barr J.P. He was schooled in Derry.[1]

He then came to Scotland to study medicine at Glasgow University, graduating in 1873.

He received house appointements in Glasgow Royal Infirmary and then the Northern Hospital, Liverpool, settling in Everton at that time.

Working at Kirkdale Gaol in Liverpool as a Medical Officer he developed a strong interest in the care of prisoners, leading him to be sent to Ireland by the British Government in 1885 during a period of unrest. His promotion of the medical examination of political prisoners in Ireland sparked controversy.[2]

He gave evidence to the Capital Sentences Committee (sitting 1886-1888) and in 1891 was involved in the training of the first three hangmen who were put on the list of persons competent to perform executions.

He was knighted in 1905, a Knight of the Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem,[3] and awarded a CBE in 1920.

In 1912 he was elected President of the British Medical Association.[4]

He was Vice President of the Society of Constructive Birth Control and a strong supporter of Marie Stopes.[5]

He retired to London in 1926[6] and died at Putney Heath.

Publications

Family

He married Isabelle Woolley in 1882. They had one son, Samuel Tudor Barr,[6] and one daughter.

References

  1. ↑ "Former fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh : 1783-2002" (PDF). Royalsoced.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  2. ↑ "BBC - Your Paintings - Sir James Barr (1849–1938)". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  3. ↑ "Cambridge Journals Online - Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh - Abstract - Sir James Barr, C.B.E., M.D., LL.D., F.R.C.P..". Journals.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  4. ↑ "Munks Roll Details for James (Sir) Barr". Rcplondon.ac.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  5. ↑ "James Barr 1849 – 1938". Sueyounghistories.com. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  6. 1 2 "Diamond War Memorial Project". Diamondwarmemorial.com. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, March 21, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.