Robert Macintosh
Sir Robert Macintosh | |
---|---|
anaesthetic vaporiser, spray and endobronchial tube | |
Spouse | Dorothy Manning |
Parents | (father) |
Awards | knighted in 1955 |
Sir Robert Reynolds Macintosh (17 October 1897 – 28 August 1989,
Early life
Macintosh was born 17 October 1897 in Timaru, New Zealand and baptised with the Maori name Rewi Rawhiti.[2] He was the youngest son of Charles Nicholson Macintosh, newspaper editor and mayor of Timaru in 1901, and his wife, Lydia Beatrice Thompson.[2] He spent part of his childhood in Argentina, but returned to New Zealand when he was thirteen years old. He was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School, where he was head of school and excelled academically and athletically.
In December 1915, he travelled to Britain and was commissioned in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, soon transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He was shot down behind enemy lines on 26 May 1917 and taken prisoner, escaping several times.[2]
Medical
After the war, Macintosh trained at Guy's Hospital Medical School, qualifying MRCS LRCP in 1924 and FRCS Ed in 1927. While studying surgery, he earned a living by giving dental anaesthetics and developed an interest in anaesthetics.[3]
In 1936, the University of Oxford approached Lord Nuffield to consider endowing three chairs in medicine, surgery, and obstetrics and gynaecology. Nuffield, who had received an anaesthetic from Macintosh, agreed, but against the university's wishes, insisted on the addition of a chair in anaesthetics, to be held by Macintosh. They could not ignore the £2 million on offer and Macintosh took up his appointment in February 1937, the first professor of anaesthetics outside America.[3][4]
In the
Macintosh designed equipment that now bears his name: a
Macintosh studied unexplained deaths that occurred under anaesthesia and established a training programme. He travelled widely, giving demonstrations of "safe and simple" anaesthesia.[4]
Macintosh married Dorothy Manning, whose sister Mary, was married to Archie Forbes.
Honours
Macintosh was knighted in 1955, and received many honorary doctorates and fellowships.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Macintosh blade". AnaesthesiaUK. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/40073. Retrieved 20 February 2009. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ ISBN 978-1-85315-512-3.
- ^ S2CID 220201126. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- PMID 15618821. Retrieved 2023-11-27.