Russell Brain, 1st Baron Brain
Encyclopedia
Walter Russell Brain, 1st Baron Brain (23 October 1895 – 29 December 1966) was a British
neurologist
. He was principal author of the standard work of neurology, Brain's Diseases of the Nervous System, and longtime editor of the eponymous neurological medical journal
titled Brain
. He is also eponymised with "Brain's reflex
", a reflex exhibited by humans when assuming the quadripedian position.
, where he obtained his BM BCh in 1922 and a DM in 1925, and specialised in neurology. Apart from his clinical practice, he was a member on a large number of government committees pertaining to physical and mental health, and was involved in the care of Winston Churchill
on the latter's deathbed in 1965.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
in 1931 and was President of the society from 1950 to 1956.
He was knighted in 1952, made a baronet in 1954, and in 1962 created Baron Brain, of Eynsham
in the County of Oxford
. In March, 1964 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.
, tried for the murder of a baby in 1981 but acquitted.
in 1944, ‘Man, society and religion’, in which he stressed the importance of a social conscience.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
. He was principal author of the standard work of neurology, Brain's Diseases of the Nervous System, and longtime editor of the eponymous neurological medical journal
Medical journal
A public health journal is a scientific journal devoted to the field of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and health care . Public health journals, like most scientific journals, are peer-reviewed...
titled Brain
Brain (journal)
Brain is a neurological journal published by Oxford University Press. It was edited by John Newsom-Davis from 1997 to 2004. Under his editorship it became one of the first scientific journals to go online. Since 2004 the journal is edited by Alastair Compston, Professor and Head of Department of...
. He is also eponymised with "Brain's reflex
Brain's reflex
Brain's reflex is the extension of a hemiplegic flexed arm when a quadrupedal posture is assumed by a human subject. It was first described by Russell Brain, a British neurologist....
", a reflex exhibited by humans when assuming the quadripedian position.
Career
Brain studied medicine at OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, where he obtained his BM BCh in 1922 and a DM in 1925, and specialised in neurology. Apart from his clinical practice, he was a member on a large number of government committees pertaining to physical and mental health, and was involved in the care of Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
on the latter's deathbed in 1965.
He was elected 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 1931 and was President of the society from 1950 to 1956.
He was knighted in 1952, made a baronet in 1954, and in 1962 created Baron Brain, of Eynsham
Eynsham
Eynsham is a village and civil parish about east of Witney in Oxfordshire, England.-History:Eynsham grew up near the historically important ford of Swinford on the River Thames flood plain...
in the County of Oxford
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. In March, 1964 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.
Family
He married Stella Langdon-Down and had a daughter, Janet, and two sons, Christopher (b. 1926) and Michael (b. 1928). Christopher succeeded him as the 2nd Baron Brain. In 1954 Janet married Dr Leonard ArthurLeonard Arthur
Dr Leonard John Henry Arthur MB, BChir, MRCP, D Obst RCOG was a British doctor tried in 1981 for the attempted murder of John Pearson, a newborn child with Down's Syndrome. He was acquitted....
, tried for the murder of a baby in 1981 but acquitted.
Religious beliefs
He became a Quaker in 1931 and gave the Swarthmore LectureSwarthmore Lecture
Swarthmore Lecture is one of a series of lectures, started in 1908, addressed to Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends .The preface to the very first lecture explains the purpose of the series....
in 1944, ‘Man, society and religion’, in which he stressed the importance of a social conscience.