Richard Caton

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For the Baltimore merchant and real estate developer, see Richard Caton (merchant).

Dr
Richard Caton
CBE(1920) MB CM Edin(1867) MD Hon LLD Liverp Edin Hon Doctor Padua FRCP(1888)
Born26 July 1842
Edinburgh University
Occupation(s)Physician, professor of physiology, Lord Mayor of Liverpool (1907–08), Pro-vice-chancellor of University of Liverpool
Known forResearch into electrophysiology, medical education
SpouseAnnie Ivory (1855–1912)
ChildrenAnne Rose, Mildred Robina
Parent(s)Richard Caton, M.D (1809–1852), Mary Fawcett (1811–1873)
Signature
Signature of Dr Richard Caton

Richard Caton (1842,

physiologist and Lord Mayor of Liverpool who was crucial in discovering the electrical nature of the brain and laid the groundwork for Hans Berger to discover alpha wave activity in the human brain.[1][2]

Early life and education

Richard Caton was born in

Edinburgh Medical School qualifying MB in 1867, FRCP in 1868, and MD in 1870.[1][2]

Physician

After graduating, Caton was resident at the

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh. He moved to Liverpool in 1868 and became assistant physician to The Liverpool Infirmary for Children. He was physician to the Northern Hospital, Liverpool from 1876 to 1886, and physician to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary from 1886 to 1902, where he became consulting physician upon his retirement. He was Vice-Chairman of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine from its foundation in 1899.[1][2]

Medical Educator

Royal Infirmary School of Medicine (1869–1881)

In 1869 Dr Richard Caton was Demonstrator in Comparative Anatomy at the

Liverpool Royal Infirmary School of Medicine which at the time allowed degrees to be taken at University of London. He became part-time Demonstrator in Physiology in 1871. He played a crucial part in the expansion of the medical school, which included a physiology laboratory opened in 1873. At an introductory address to medical students that year he reported that "it may now fairly be said that for its size there is no school in the country more fully equipped for the work of medical teaching, in all its scientific and practical departments."[1][3]

University College (1882–1902)

Dr Richard Caton played a key role in establishing higher education in Liverpool. In November 1877, a joint meeting was held between the

Yorkshire College
, Leeds. Victoria University had the power to award medical degrees with its own syllabus requirements.

Caton worked as part-time Professor of Physiology from 1882 to 1891. When George Holt, the shipping line owner, endowed the Chair of Physiology at University College Liverpool in 1891 as a full-time appointment, Caton resigned in favour of Francis Gotch (1853–1913) who was succeeded in 1895 by Charles Scott Sherrington (1857–1952). An appeal for funds in 1887, which included £50 from Caton, allowed the construction of the Victoria Building in 1892 on the site of the former lunatic asylum on Brownlow Hill.[2][4]

University of Liverpool (1903–1924)

Dr Richard Caton was on the Court of Governors of the University from the start. He and others lobbied hard for an independent University of Liverpool which was achieved in 1903. Manchester and Leeds followed in 1904. In 1903, women were also granted the opportunity to be awarded degrees.

Caton was the first representative of Liverpool University on the

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.[1][2]

Research

On 4 August 1875 Caton reported to the

Temple of Asklepios at Epidauros. In 1904, he gave his first Harveian lecture to the Royal College of Physicians on the topic of early Egyptian medicine.[2]

Other offices held

Dr Richard Caton was also President of the

Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool. He was alive to see the first stone laid in 1904. By his death in 1926, the altar, chancel and transepts were in place; the building was finally completed in 1978.[2]

The Royal Infirmary School of Medicine Debating Society

The

Liverpool Royal Infirmary School of Medicine Debating Society (M.S.D.S.) was founded by staff and students at the medical school on 20 October 1874. This led to the formation of the Medical Students Society (M.S.S.) when its name was changed in 1943. Caton was elected its inaugural president, chairing the society's debates and taking detailed minutes. On Saturday 21 November 1874 Caton opened the precedings with an address in which he expressed the prophetic opinion that "the Debating Society was destined to be one of the permanent institutions in the School of Medicine."[5][6]

Educational activities included the presenting of both cases and specimens on a variety of medical and surgical subjects. Students presented papers on a range of topics including

Lister's anti-sepsis, miasma theory, Spiritualism, galvanism and grammar school education.[7]

Caton's enthusiasm for his students' education is demonstrated in 1875 when he describes what "excellent exercise it was to place their thoughts on paper and thoroughly to investigate any subject for the benefit of their fellow Student."[8]

Personal life

In 1869, Dr Richard Caton moved from Edinburgh to Liverpool, where he lived for the rest of his life. His mother died at his house in Abercromby Square in 1873. In 1885 he married Annie Ivory (1855–1912), daughter of an Edinburgh Solicitor. They had two daughters, Anne Rose and Mildred Robina, the former of whom became her father's companion in later years. Mildred married Henry Arderne Ormerod (1886–1964), Professor of Ancient History at Liverpool University. Their son W.E. Omerod preserved Caton's papers for posterity; these can be seen in the University of Liverpool Special Collections and Archives.

Caton lived at a number of addresses including Livingstone Drive Sefton Park, Balmoral Road Fairfield, Lea Hall Gateacre, and Sunnyside Princes Park. For his practice he had consulting rooms at 36 and 78 Rodney Street, Liverpool. His health worsening, with increasing sciatica, Caton moved to Surrey for warmer climes. He died in Haslemere on 2 January 1926. He was buried at All Saints' Church, Childwall, Liverpool, on 6 January 1926. His gravestone commemorates both him and his wife.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Brown, G.H. "Royal College of Physicians, Munk's Roll: Volume IV, page 326, Dr Richard Caton". Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Sykes, A.H. "Dr Richard Caton (1842–1926) : Medicine, Education and Civic Affairs in Liverpool, The Bulletin of the Liverpool Medical History Society, Number 22, 2010–2011 session" (PDF). Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  3. ^ Richard Caton. Introductory Address delivered at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary School of Medicine, 1 October 1873, Liverpool: 1873. Access via Liverpool Medical Institution archives.
  4. ^ Gray, T. Cecil; Sheard, Sally (2001). A Brief History of Medical Education in Liverpool. The Bluecoat Press.
  5. ^ Dr Richard Caton, Minutes of the Royal Infirmary School of Medicine Debating Society (M.S.D.S.), 20 October 1874 (Available from the University of Liverpool Special Collections and Archives)
  6. ^ Dr Richard Caton, Minutes of the Royal Infirmary School of Medicine Debating Society (M.S.D.S.), 21 November 1874 (Available from the University of Liverpool Special Collections and Archives)
  7. ^ Various authors, Minutes of the Royal Infirmary School of Medicine Debating Society (M.S.D.S.), 1874–1877, 1885–1888 (Available from the University of Liverpool Special Collections and Archives)
  8. ^ Dr Richard Caton, Minutes of the Royal Infirmary School of Medicine Debating Society (M.S.D.S.), 16 October 1875 (Available from the University of Liverpool Special Collections and Archives)

Sources

External links
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