Marcus Fernando
Encyclopedia
Sir
Hilarian Marcus Fernando, (1864–1936) was a pre-independence Ceylonese statesmen, physician and banker. He was a member of both the Executive Council
and Legislative Council
as well as the Chairman of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon.
) and the Colombo Academy later renamed Royal College Colombo
. At Royal he won the Turnour Prize
,Junior Cambridge Scholarship, and Mathematical Prize. He received a Ceylon Government Scholarship and Scholarship from the Gilchrist Educational Trust, enabling him to study medicine at University College London
. He graduated BSc
MBChB winning Atchinson Scolarship and University of London
Gold Medals in Physiology, Medicine and Forensic Medicine. He graduated with M.B.in 1888, M.D. in 1889 and in 1890 was elected a Fellow of University
College.
of the Ceylon Medical College and was appointed the first Consultant Physician
to be appointed to the General Hospital Colombo. He contributed to scientific discussions on a wide range of diseases and is associated with a discussion on Diabetes in the Tropics, where he is credited with the observation that it was more common among the affluent Ceylonese..He was a member of the Ceylon Branch of the British Medical Association, and was Secretary from 1891-1897 and President in the years 1905 and 1914.He was the director of the Bacteriological institute in Colombo and Chemical Examiner to the Government of Ceylon .
, but subsequently served on both Executive and Legislative Councils. He was created a Knight Batchelor in 1923 (New Year Honours List).
, Nimal Senanayake
and Hithanadura Janaka De Silva. A hall of residence in the University of Peradeniya
and a road in Colombo 7 are named Marcus Fernando in his honour.
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Hilarian Marcus Fernando, (1864–1936) was a pre-independence Ceylonese statesmen, physician and banker. He was a member of both the Executive Council
Executive Council of Ceylon
The Executive Council of Ceylon was the Executive Council created in Ceylon by the British colonial administration on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission along with the Legislative Council of Ceylon on March 13, 1833....
and Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Ceylon
The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1833, along with the Executive Council of Ceylon, on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission. It was the first form of representative government in the island...
as well as the Chairman of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon.
Education
He was educated at St Benedicts Academy (later known as St Benedict's College ColomboSt Benedict's College Colombo
St. Benedict's College is a Catholic school located in Kotahena area of Colombo, Sri Lanka. This school was founded in 1865 and is managed by De La Salle Brothers. The school is considered as one of the leading schools in Sri Lanka, with a history of over 145 years...
) and the Colombo Academy later renamed Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
. At Royal he won the Turnour Prize
Turnour Prize
The Turnour Prize is the oldest of the panel prizes at Royal College Colombo. It is one of the most prestigious prizes and honour awarded to a student of Royal College, the oldest public school in the country. Awarded annually to the best student in performance in academics. First awarded in 1846...
,Junior Cambridge Scholarship, and Mathematical Prize. He received a Ceylon Government Scholarship and Scholarship from the Gilchrist Educational Trust, enabling him to study medicine at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He graduated BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
MBChB winning Atchinson Scolarship and University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
Gold Medals in Physiology, Medicine and Forensic Medicine. He graduated with M.B.in 1888, M.D. in 1889 and in 1890 was elected a Fellow of University
College.
Medical career
On his return to Ceylon he served as RegistrarRegistrar
A registrar is an official keeper of records made in a register. Registrar may also refer to:-Government records:* Recorder of deeds, government office which maintains public records related to real estate...
of the Ceylon Medical College and was appointed the first Consultant Physician
Consultant (medicine)
In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...
to be appointed to the General Hospital Colombo. He contributed to scientific discussions on a wide range of diseases and is associated with a discussion on Diabetes in the Tropics, where he is credited with the observation that it was more common among the affluent Ceylonese..He was a member of the Ceylon Branch of the British Medical Association, and was Secretary from 1891-1897 and President in the years 1905 and 1914.He was the director of the Bacteriological institute in Colombo and Chemical Examiner to the Government of Ceylon .
Political career
At the age of 43 he resigned from the medical service to take up a career in business and politics. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon. He contested unsuccessfully for a seat in the legislative assembly losing to Sir Ponnambalam RamanathanPonnambalam Ramanathan
Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, KCMG, KC was a Solicitor-General and Tamil political leader in Sri Lanka.-Early life:...
, but subsequently served on both Executive and Legislative Councils. He was created a Knight Batchelor in 1923 (New Year Honours List).
Legacy
The Sri Lanka Medical Association commemorates his life through an endowed oration.,. Orators include Surendra RamachandranSurendra Ramachandran
Deshamanya Surendra Ramachandran, MD , FRCP was a Sri Lankan Physician and Nephrologist.-Education:Educated at Royal College Colombo, he studied medicine Colombo Medical College where he obtained first classes in the 2nd, 3rd and final MBBS examinations with distinctions in Physiology,...
, Nimal Senanayake
Nimal Senanayake
Professor Nimal Senanayake is a Sri Lankan neurologist, physician, author, film and television scriptwriter and academic.Senanayake was educated at the University of Peradeniya where he later became Senior Lecturer in Medicine, Professor of Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Chairman...
and Hithanadura Janaka De Silva. A hall of residence in the University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
and a road in Colombo 7 are named Marcus Fernando in his honour.