Roy Cameron
Encyclopedia
Gordon Roy Cameron FRCP
FRS
(30 June 1899 – 7 October 1966) was an Australian pathologist.
to George Cameron and his wife Emily Pascoe. He was educated at state schools in local villages including Mitiamo
, Lancefield
, Dunkeld
and finally (from 1911 to 1917) at Kyneton
, although from 1913 to 1917 he was occupied with compulsory military service. He gained a scholarship to Queen's College
at the University of Melbourne
, where he studied medicine from February 1916 to 1922, when he graduated with a second-class MB BS. A lecture by Harry Brookes Allen
convinced Cameron to focus on Pathology
, and he was appointed Stewart Lecturer of Pathology at the University of Melbourne in 1924.
invited Cameron to work at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
as the deputy director, where he remained until 1927, when he left to take up a position at University College Hospital
(UCH) under Arthur Boycott, with the idea that he would return to take over from Harry Allen. When his time in London was up however he discovered he did not want to return, and he instead took up board with Fred Crewe (Boycott's chief technician) and his wife Alice, with whom he lived for the rest of his life and who remained devoted to him. He never married. In 1929 he became Graham Scholar in Pathology at the Hospital, followed by a promotion to Beit Fellow for Medical Research in 1930. He spent a year as a pathologist at Queen Mary's Hospital
but, unhappy with the job, returned to UCH in 1934, this time as a Reader in Pathology. Boycott retired as Reader in Morbid Anatomy in 1937 and Cameron succeeded him, although he then spent much of World War II
working with Joseph Barcroft
at Porton Down
studying the effects of poison gas
. After the war Roy returned to UCH, this time as head of the Graham department. He retired in 1964 and died of heart disease on 7 October 1966.
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...
FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(30 June 1899 – 7 October 1966) was an Australian pathologist.
Childhood and education
Cameron was born in 1899 in Echuca, VictoriaEchuca, Victoria
Echuca is a town located on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe river in Victoria, Australia. The Border town Moama is on the northern side of the Murray river in New South Wales. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Shire of Campaspe...
to George Cameron and his wife Emily Pascoe. He was educated at state schools in local villages including Mitiamo
Mitiamo, Victoria
Mitiamo is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Loddon, north of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Mitiamo had a population of 76....
, Lancefield
Lancefield, Victoria
Lancefield is a town in the Shire of Macedon Ranges Local government area in Victoria, Australia. The town is located north of the state capital, Melbourne and had a population of 1,184 at the 2006 census.-History:...
, Dunkeld
Dunkeld, Victoria
Dunkeld is a town in Victoria, Australia at the southern end of the Grampians National Park, in the Shire of Southern Grampians. It is approx 283 km west of Melbourne on the Glenelg Highway. The town's population is holding steady but ageing...
and finally (from 1911 to 1917) at Kyneton
Kyneton, Victoria
Kyneton is a town on the Calder Highway in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire. The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street and High Street...
, although from 1913 to 1917 he was occupied with compulsory military service. He gained a scholarship to Queen's College
Queen's College (University of Melbourne)
Queen's College is a residential College affiliated with the University of Melbourne providing accommodation to 220 students who are attending the University of Melbourne, Victorian College of the Arts, RMIT University and Monash University's Victorian College of Pharmacy.In addition to the...
at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where he studied medicine from February 1916 to 1922, when he graduated with a second-class MB BS. A lecture by Harry Brookes Allen
Harry Brookes Allen
Sir Harry Brookes Allen was a noted Australian pathologist.-Education:Harry Brookes Allen was born at Geelong, Victoria, the son of Thomas Watts Allen. He was educated at Flinders School, Geelong, and in 1869–70 at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School...
convinced Cameron to focus on Pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
, and he was appointed Stewart Lecturer of Pathology at the University of Melbourne in 1924.
Career
In 1925 Charles KellawayCharles Kellaway
Charles Halliley Kellaway, MB, BS, MD, MS, MC, FRS, was an Australian medical researcher and science administrator.-Early years and education:...
invited Cameron to work at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research is Australia's oldest medical research institute.In 2011, the institute is home to more than 650 researchers who are working to understand, prevent and treat diseases including blood, breast and ovarian cancers; inflammatory diseases such as...
as the deputy director, where he remained until 1927, when he left to take up a position at University College Hospital
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
(UCH) under Arthur Boycott, with the idea that he would return to take over from Harry Allen. When his time in London was up however he discovered he did not want to return, and he instead took up board with Fred Crewe (Boycott's chief technician) and his wife Alice, with whom he lived for the rest of his life and who remained devoted to him. He never married. In 1929 he became Graham Scholar in Pathology at the Hospital, followed by a promotion to Beit Fellow for Medical Research in 1930. He spent a year as a pathologist at Queen Mary's Hospital
Queen Mary's Hospital
Queen Mary's Hospital Roehampton is a hospital in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1915 to provide care for wounded soldiers, it became a world renowned limb fitting and amputee rehabilitation centre. Recently rebuilt and modernized it has become a unit of the Wandsworth Primary Care Trust...
but, unhappy with the job, returned to UCH in 1934, this time as a Reader in Pathology. Boycott retired as Reader in Morbid Anatomy in 1937 and Cameron succeeded him, although he then spent much of 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...
working with Joseph Barcroft
Joseph Barcroft
Sir Joseph Barcroft CBE, FRS was a British physiologist best known for his studies of the oxygenation of blood....
at Porton Down
Porton Down
Porton Down is a United Kingdom government and military science park. It is situated slightly northeast of Porton near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. To the northwest lies the MoD Boscombe Down test range facility which is operated by QinetiQ...
studying the effects of poison gas
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
. After the war Roy returned to UCH, this time as head of the Graham department. He retired in 1964 and died of heart disease on 7 October 1966.