J.B. Lyons
Encyclopedia
John Benignus Lyons better known as J. B. Lyons and widely known as Jack Lyons, was an Irish
medical historian, writer, physician and professor of medicial history. He was described as "one of the foremost Irish medical writers of the twentieth century".
Born in Kilkelly
, County Mayo, his father was a dispensary doctor. His first school was the Kilkelly National School, followed by boarding school in Castleknock College
, near Dublin. He went on to study medicine at University College Dublin
. He first worked in Dublin hospitals, including Mater Hospital and the County Hospital in Castlebar
, and then moved to England. He achieved the
Doctor of Medicine
(at the National University of Ireland
) and in 1949 he was made a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
. He then left to become a ship's doctor on a cargo liner
sailing to Japan and South America. On his return to land, Lyons settled in Manchester
, England, where he met, and in 1950 married, a Welsh nurse, Muriel Jones. In 1955, they and their three children, David, Kate and Jane, moved to Dalkey
, just outside Dublin, and Lyons became the consultant physician at St. Michael's Hospital
in Dun Laoghaire
and then in 1959 became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
. In 1959, he became consultant physician at Mercer's Hospital
, Dublin.
Lyons achieved a WHO
fellowship to visit leading neurological centres in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Francisco. He then wrote his first book, A Primer of Neurology, which was published in 1974. Soon after, he began to write fictional works using the pseudonym
Michael Fitzwilliam, which were set in hospitals. He then wrote more biographies and medical history books.
His biographies included studies of Oliver St. John Gogarty
(published in 1976 and 1980), a biography of Tom Kettle (1983) and of the
Irish-African explorer Surgeon-Major Parke (1994). Lyons wrote much about Irish medical history and contributed chapters to other books,
including Diseases in Dubliners: Tokens of Disaffection (1981)
He died aged eighty-five years.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
medical historian, writer, physician and professor of medicial history. He was described as "one of the foremost Irish medical writers of the twentieth century".
Born in Kilkelly
Kilkelly
Kilkelly is a village in Kilmovee parish County Mayo, Ireland. It is just south of Knock International Airport, lying between the Airport and the town of Knock itself. The village is along the N17, a national primary road running between Galway and Sligo...
, County Mayo, his father was a dispensary doctor. His first school was the Kilkelly National School, followed by boarding school in Castleknock College
Castleknock College
Castleknock College is a private , secondary school for boys aged between 13 and 18, which is situated in the residential suburb of Castleknock, 8 km west of the city centre in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
, near Dublin. He went on to study medicine at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
. He first worked in Dublin hospitals, including Mater Hospital and the County Hospital in Castlebar
Castlebar
Castlebar is the county town of, and at the centre of, County Mayo in Ireland. It is Mayo's largest town by population. The town's population exploded in the late 1990s, increasing by one-third in just six years, though this massive growth has slowed down greatly in recent years...
, and then moved to England. He achieved the
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(at the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
) and in 1949 he was made a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland , was founded in 1654 and is a postgraduate medical organisation comprising Members and Fellows...
. He then left to become a ship's doctor on a cargo liner
Cargo liner
A Cargo liner is a type of merchant ship which carried general cargo and often passengers. They became common just after the middle of the nineteenth century, and eventually gave way to container ships and other more specialized carriers in the latter half of the twentieth...
sailing to Japan and South America. On his return to land, Lyons settled in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England, where he met, and in 1950 married, a Welsh nurse, Muriel Jones. In 1955, they and their three children, David, Kate and Jane, moved to Dalkey
Dalkey
Dalkey is suburb of Dublin and seaside resort in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland. It was founded as a Viking settlement and became an important port during the Middle Ages. According to John Clyn, it was one of the ports through which the plague entered Ireland in the mid-14th century...
, just outside Dublin, and Lyons became the consultant physician at St. Michael's Hospital
St. Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire
St. Michael's Hospital is a public hospital in Dún Laoghaire in Ireland.It has an annexe, which was previously a private hospital, but is now part of the public hospital.- References :...
in Dun Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
and then in 1959 became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
. In 1959, he became consultant physician at Mercer's Hospital
Mercer's Hospital
Mercer's Hospital in Dublin, Ireland is a former hospital, converted in the 1990s into a medical centre, part of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.-History:...
, Dublin.
Lyons achieved a WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
fellowship to visit leading neurological centres in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Francisco. He then wrote his first book, A Primer of Neurology, which was published in 1974. Soon after, he began to write fictional works using the pseudonym
Michael Fitzwilliam, which were set in hospitals. He then wrote more biographies and medical history books.
His biographies included studies of Oliver St. John Gogarty
Oliver St. John Gogarty
Oliver Joseph St John Gogarty was an Irish poet, author, otolaryngologist, athlete, politician, and well-known conversationalist, who served as the inspiration for Buck Mulligan in James Joyce's novel Ulysses....
(published in 1976 and 1980), a biography of Tom Kettle (1983) and of the
Irish-African explorer Surgeon-Major Parke (1994). Lyons wrote much about Irish medical history and contributed chapters to other books,
including Diseases in Dubliners: Tokens of Disaffection (1981)
He died aged eighty-five years.