Rocke Robertson
Encyclopedia
Harold Rocke Robertson, CC
, FRSC
(August 4, 1912 - February 8, 1998) is the former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University
(1962–1970) and a physician.
, British Columbia
, he received a Bachelor of Science in 1932; and graduated from medicine in 1936 both from McGill University. He served in World War II
as a surgeon becoming a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of surgery at the Vancouver
Military Hospital.
After the war, in 1950, he became the first Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia
, where he played a major role in the founding of the medical school.
In 1959, he became Surgeon-in-Chief at the Montreal General Hospital
, until being appointed Principal of McGill in 1962. He was the first physician and the first McGill University graduate to serve as its Principal and Vice Chancellor.
He received many honorary degrees from: Bishop's University
, University of Manitoba
, University of Toronto
, University of Victoria
(1964), University of Glasgow
, University of British Columbia (1964), Université de Montréal
, University of Michigan
, Dartmouth College
and Memorial University (1968).
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
in 1968 and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
in 1969.
He was married to Beatrice Rosalyn Arnold and had four children: Tam, Ian, Bea and Stuart.
From the battlefields of World War II to the emergency room of the Montreal General Hospital and the principal’s office of McGill University, every turn of Harold Rocke Robertson’s remarkable life illustrates one of his favourite quotations: “As we establish our rightful place in the world, it is chiefly char-acter that counts.”
Born in Victoria, British Columbia, and educated in Switzerland, Robertson moved to Montreal to attend McGill University and, by 1936, had received both his B.Sc. and MD. Following an internship at the Montreal General Hospital, he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army’s Medical Corps and served in Europe, where he commanded surgical units in the field and participated in the allied invasion of Italy. Returning to his native British Columbia after the war, Robertson served in the Vancouver Military Hospital before joining the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine. His alma mater retained a special place in his heart, however, and Robertson returned to Montreal in 1959 as Surgeon-in-Chief at the Montreal General Hospital. There, this dedicated teacher and valued colleague oversaw the creation of the University Surgical Clinic, developed a Surgical Intensive Care Unit and was named Chairman of Surgery. His military training inspired him to streamline the General’s emergency room and develop the Trauma Team concept, which is the model for trauma care today.
In 1962, Robertson was the first physician and the first McGill graduate to become the principal and vice-chancellor of the university. Under his leadership, McGill saw many significant changes, including the rapid physical expansion of the university, a dramatic increase in the number of staff and students and the introduction of an important policy that permitted students to submit papers and exams in French.
During his lifetime, Robertson received numerous awards from various institutions, including honorary degrees from Harvard University and the University of Toronto. He was a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1969, shortly before he retired as McGill’s principal, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. A prolific and widely published writer, Robertson was also a dedicated reader with a passion for lexicography and for collecting rare English dictionaries. When he died in his 86th year, he left behind his beloved wife Rolly and their four accomplished children.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(August 4, 1912 - February 8, 1998) is the former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
(1962–1970) and a physician.
Biography
Born in VictoriaVictoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, he received a Bachelor of Science in 1932; and graduated from medicine in 1936 both from McGill University. He served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a surgeon becoming a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of surgery at the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
Military Hospital.
After the war, in 1950, he became the first Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, where he played a major role in the founding of the medical school.
In 1959, he became Surgeon-in-Chief at the Montreal General Hospital
Montreal General Hospital
The Montreal General Hospital is a hospital in Montreal, Canada, established on May 1, 1819 and an early teaching hospital. First located on the corner of Craig and St-Lawrence Streets with only 24 beds, it moved in 1822 to a new 72-bed building on Dorchester Street. It is currently situated on...
, until being appointed Principal of McGill in 1962. He was the first physician and the first McGill University graduate to serve as its Principal and Vice Chancellor.
He received many honorary degrees from: Bishop's University
Bishop's University
Bishop's University is a predominantly undergraduate university in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Bishop's is one of three universities in the province of Quebec that teach primarily in the English language...
, University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
(1964), University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, University of British Columbia (1964), Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
and Memorial University (1968).
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
in 1968 and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1969.
He was married to Beatrice Rosalyn Arnold and had four children: Tam, Ian, Bea and Stuart.
From the battlefields of World War II to the emergency room of the Montreal General Hospital and the principal’s office of McGill University, every turn of Harold Rocke Robertson’s remarkable life illustrates one of his favourite quotations: “As we establish our rightful place in the world, it is chiefly char-acter that counts.”
Born in Victoria, British Columbia, and educated in Switzerland, Robertson moved to Montreal to attend McGill University and, by 1936, had received both his B.Sc. and MD. Following an internship at the Montreal General Hospital, he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army’s Medical Corps and served in Europe, where he commanded surgical units in the field and participated in the allied invasion of Italy. Returning to his native British Columbia after the war, Robertson served in the Vancouver Military Hospital before joining the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine. His alma mater retained a special place in his heart, however, and Robertson returned to Montreal in 1959 as Surgeon-in-Chief at the Montreal General Hospital. There, this dedicated teacher and valued colleague oversaw the creation of the University Surgical Clinic, developed a Surgical Intensive Care Unit and was named Chairman of Surgery. His military training inspired him to streamline the General’s emergency room and develop the Trauma Team concept, which is the model for trauma care today.
In 1962, Robertson was the first physician and the first McGill graduate to become the principal and vice-chancellor of the university. Under his leadership, McGill saw many significant changes, including the rapid physical expansion of the university, a dramatic increase in the number of staff and students and the introduction of an important policy that permitted students to submit papers and exams in French.
During his lifetime, Robertson received numerous awards from various institutions, including honorary degrees from Harvard University and the University of Toronto. He was a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1969, shortly before he retired as McGill’s principal, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. A prolific and widely published writer, Robertson was also a dedicated reader with a passion for lexicography and for collecting rare English dictionaries. When he died in his 86th year, he left behind his beloved wife Rolly and their four accomplished children.