William Tindal Robertson
Encyclopedia
Sir William Tindal Robertson (1825 – 6 October 1889), was an English physician. He represented Brighton
in Parliament from 29 Nov 1886 - 25 Oct 1889.
He was the eldest son of Frederick Fowler Robertson of Bath, and of Anne his wife née Tindal. He was educated at The King's School, Grantham
, and he afterwards became a pupil of Dr. H. P. Robarts of Great Coram Street, and a student of University College, London. He matriculated at London University in 1846, but did not take a degree.
He obtained a license to practise from the Apothecaries' Company in 1848, and was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1850. He acted as resident medical officer at the Middlesex Hospital
in 1848–9, and he became a resident surgeon to the Royal Free Hospital
in 1850. He afterwards went to Paris to complete his medical studies, and in 1853 he graduated M.D. at Edinburgh.
He established a medical practice in Nottingham
in the following year, and in 1855 married Elizabeth Ann, daughter of John Leavers, cotton spinner of The Park, Nottingham. For nearly twenty years he acted as physician to the Nottingham General Hospital
. Robertson was largely responsible for making Nottingham a major teaching hospital by introducing the Oxford local examinations.
Robertson was also involved in the public life of Nottingham: he was member of the town council, helped to start the local Literary and Philosophical Society and in the foundation of the Robin Hood Rifles, a unit of the Volunteer Force
. He was a member of Nottingham Town Council. He delivered the address on medicine at the meeting of the British Medical Association
in Nottingham in 1857, and acted as a local secretary when the British Association met in the town in 1866.
His eyesight began to fail, and he became blind from glaucoma
in 1873, and in 1874 he was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London. He retired from medicine, moving to Brighton in 1876, where he was elected to the town council and was a justice of the peace
for Brighton and Sussex. The chairman of the Brighton Conservative and Constitutional Association, when the sitting member of parliament, David Smith
, died in 1886 he was unanimously selected by the local party to contest the vacant seat. He was elected unopposed.
A member of the Royal Commission
on the Blind, the Deaf and the Dumb, he was rewarded for his work on the body with a knighthood
in 1888.
In the last weeks of his life he suffered from severe depression, and he took his own life by cutting his throat with a razor at his Kemp Town
, Brighton residence in October 1889. He was cremated at Woking
, Surrey
and his ashes placed in the family vault at Brighton.
Brighton (UK Parliament constituency)
Brighton was a parliamentary constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until it was divided into single-member seats from the United Kingdom general election, 1950...
in Parliament from 29 Nov 1886 - 25 Oct 1889.
He was the eldest son of Frederick Fowler Robertson of Bath, and of Anne his wife née Tindal. He was educated at The King's School, Grantham
The King's School, Grantham
The King's School is a British grammar school located in the market town of Grantham, in Lincolnshire, England, and one of the oldest schools in the UK.-History:...
, and he afterwards became a pupil of Dr. H. P. Robarts of Great Coram Street, and a student of University College, London. He matriculated at London University in 1846, but did not take a degree.
He obtained a license to practise from the Apothecaries' Company in 1848, and was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1850. He acted as resident medical officer at the Middlesex Hospital
Middlesex Hospital
The Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, United Kingdom. First opened in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally closed in 2005. Its staff and services were transferred to various sites...
in 1848–9, and he became a resident surgeon to the Royal Free Hospital
Royal Free Hospital
The Royal Free Hospital is a major teaching hospital in Hampstead, London, England and part of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust....
in 1850. He afterwards went to Paris to complete his medical studies, and in 1853 he graduated M.D. at Edinburgh.
He established a medical practice in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
in the following year, and in 1855 married Elizabeth Ann, daughter of John Leavers, cotton spinner of The Park, Nottingham. For nearly twenty years he acted as physician to the Nottingham General Hospital
Nottingham General Hospital
Nottingham General Hospital was the first properly constituted hospital in Nottingham, England.It was part of the area known as Nottingham Park, immediately to the north of Nottingham Castle and near the wharves, and was founded on land of which one half was given by Thomas Pelham-Clinton, 3rd...
. Robertson was largely responsible for making Nottingham a major teaching hospital by introducing the Oxford local examinations.
Robertson was also involved in the public life of Nottingham: he was member of the town council, helped to start the local Literary and Philosophical Society and in the foundation of the Robin Hood Rifles, a unit of the Volunteer Force
Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
. He was a member of Nottingham Town Council. He delivered the address on medicine at the meeting of the British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
in Nottingham in 1857, and acted as a local secretary when the British Association met in the town in 1866.
His eyesight began to fail, and he became blind from glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
in 1873, and in 1874 he was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London. He retired from medicine, moving to Brighton in 1876, where he was elected to the town council and was a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Brighton and Sussex. The chairman of the Brighton Conservative and Constitutional Association, when the sitting member of parliament, David Smith
David Smith (English politician)
David Smith was an English businessman and Conservative politician.Smith was the son of Alexander Smith of Manor House, Camberwell and his wife née Richardson. Born in London, Smith was educated in Scotland. He entered business as a colonial merchant.Smith married Elise Spencer of Dublin...
, died in 1886 he was unanimously selected by the local party to contest the vacant seat. He was elected unopposed.
A member of the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on the Blind, the Deaf and the Dumb, he was rewarded for his work on the body with a knighthood
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1888.
In the last weeks of his life he suffered from severe depression, and he took his own life by cutting his throat with a razor at his Kemp Town
Kemp Town
Kemp Town is a 19th Century residential estate in the east of Brighton in East Sussex, England, UK. Kemp Town was conceived and financed by Thomas Read Kemp. It has given its name to the larger Kemptown region of Brighton....
, Brighton residence in October 1889. He was cremated at Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and his ashes placed in the family vault at Brighton.