D'Arcy Power
Encyclopedia
Sir D'Arcy Power KBE FRCS FSA (11 November 1855 in Pimlico
, London - 18 May 1941) was a British surgeon
, medical historian, and contributor of some 200 articles on famous surgeons and other related figures to the Dictionary of National Biography
.
and entered New College, Oxford
, before transferring to Exeter College
. Though he wanted to be a physiologist, he ended up following his father into becoming a surgeon (at St. Bartholomew's Hospital). In this vein, he because a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1883, serving as a member of its council from 1912 to 1928, and being its vice-president for the years 1921 and 1922. He gave the Bradshaw Lecture for 1918, the Vicary lecture for 1920, and delivered the Hunterian oration in 1925. He was variously also the Mitchell Banks Memorial Lecturer in 1933; a member of the executive committee of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund; President of the Medical Society of London
; President of the Harveian Society of London and President of the Section of the History of Medicine at the Royal Society of Medicine
, 1926 to 1928. Power also both taught and examined in medicine and wrote textbooks and articles for a number of medical journals.
when its Territorial Force
section was created on 31 July 1908, and was attached to 1st London General Hospital. He was mobilised with the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, and promoted lieutenant-colonel on 22 August. Until 1916 he was based at the officers' hospital at Fishmongers' Hall, and then rejoined the main body of 1st London General Hospital, serving until demobilisation in 1920, Power was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his service in military hospitals during the First World War in the 1919 King's Birthday Honours. He retired from the army on 30 September 1921.
. He transferred to the Medical Branch of the Royal Air Force
on the formation of the new service on 1 April 1918—taking a permanent commission as a flight lieutenant
in 1920—and ultimately reaching the rank of acting air vice marshal by 1945 when he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The younger son, George Henry Fosbroke Power, died at the Second Battle of Ypres
in 1915 when he was serving as a lieutenant
in 6th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
. Power's daughter died young of whooping cough. Power, who was presented on his 75th birthday with a bibliography listing 609 of his "selected writings" by a special committee of the Osler Club
, was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (where he was, for some time, a member of the council) and President of the Bibliographical Society
from 1926 to 1928. After his home was damaged in an air raid in 1940, Power moved in with his son at 53 Murray Road, Northwood, Middlesex, where he died on 18 May 1941.
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
, London - 18 May 1941) was a British surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, medical historian, and contributor of some 200 articles on famous surgeons and other related figures to the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
.
Medical career
The eldest son of a six boys and five girls, D'Arcy was born on 11 November 1855 at 3 Grosvenor Terrace, Pimlico, in London, the son of Henry Power, himself a surgeon. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, NorthwoodMerchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
and entered New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, before transferring to Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
. Though he wanted to be a physiologist, he ended up following his father into becoming a surgeon (at St. Bartholomew's Hospital). In this vein, he because a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1883, serving as a member of its council from 1912 to 1928, and being its vice-president for the years 1921 and 1922. He gave the Bradshaw Lecture for 1918, the Vicary lecture for 1920, and delivered the Hunterian oration in 1925. He was variously also the Mitchell Banks Memorial Lecturer in 1933; a member of the executive committee of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund; President of the Medical Society of London
Medical Society of London
The Medical Society of London is one of the oldest surviving medical societies in the United Kingdom ....
; President of the Harveian Society of London and President of the Section of the History of Medicine at the Royal Society of Medicine
Royal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
, 1926 to 1928. Power also both taught and examined in medicine and wrote textbooks and articles for a number of medical journals.
Army service
Commissioned as a surgeon in the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps on 25 April 1888, Power was given the rank of major in the Royal Army Medical CorpsRoyal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
when its Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
section was created on 31 July 1908, and was attached to 1st London General Hospital. He was mobilised with the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, and promoted lieutenant-colonel on 22 August. Until 1916 he was based at the officers' hospital at Fishmongers' Hall, and then rejoined the main body of 1st London General Hospital, serving until demobilisation in 1920, Power was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his service in military hospitals during the First World War in the 1919 King's Birthday Honours. He retired from the army on 30 September 1921.
Personal life
He married Eleanor Fosbroke in 1883; she predeceased him in 1923. They had two sons and a daughter. The older son, also called D'Arcy Power, followed his father into part-time service in the RAMC in 1911, and during the First World War became a captain and won the Military CrossMilitary Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. He transferred to the Medical Branch of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
on the formation of the new service on 1 April 1918—taking a permanent commission as a flight lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in 1920—and ultimately reaching the rank of acting air vice marshal by 1945 when he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The younger son, George Henry Fosbroke Power, died at the Second Battle of Ypres
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
in 1915 when he was serving as a lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in 6th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
. Power's daughter died young of whooping cough. Power, who was presented on his 75th birthday with a bibliography listing 609 of his "selected writings" by a special committee of the Osler Club
Osler Club
The Osler Club of London is a society founded in 1928 to "encourage the study of the history of medicine, especially amongst medical students, and to keep fresh the memory of Sir William Osler". Membership of the Osler Club is open to medical men and women, medical students, and persons associated...
, was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (where he was, for some time, a member of the council) and President of the Bibliographical Society
Bibliographical Society
Founded in 1892, the Bibliographical Society is the senior learned society dealing with the study of the book and its history, based in London, England....
from 1926 to 1928. After his home was damaged in an air raid in 1940, Power moved in with his son at 53 Murray Road, Northwood, Middlesex, where he died on 18 May 1941.
Notable works
Power's more notable standalone works included:- William Harvey (1897) on the life of William HarveyWilliam HarveyWilliam Harvey was an English physician who was the first person to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart...
; - Portraits of Dr William Harvey (1913);
- Foundations of Medical History (1931);
- A Short History of Surgery (1933);
- Mirror for Surgeons, an anthology (1939).
External links
- More comprehensive biography prepared by the Royal College of Surgeons