Gordon Hamilton-Fairley
Encyclopedia
Gordon Hamilton Fairley DM
, FRCP
(20 April 1930 – 23 October 1975) was a professor of medical oncology
. Born and raised in Australia
, he moved to the United Kingdom
where he studied and worked. He was killed by an IRA
bomb intended to kill Sir Hugh Fraser
.
), Fairley grew up in Melbourne
. He later studied at Magdalen College, Oxford
, and St Bartholomew's Hospital
, London
. Trained in hematology
as Leverhulme Research Scholar at the Royal College of Physicians
, he continued his research with an emphasis on immunohematology.
In 1968 he became director of the Clinical Research Unit at the Institute of Cancer Research
. Two years afterward, he became director of the Medical Oncology Research Unit. In 1972 he was appointed Imperial Cancer Fund Professor of Oncology
. As Professor of Medical Oncology at St. Bartholomew's Hospital he contributed a great deal to the chemotherapy and immunology of malignant disease, and, in particular, to the treatment of the malignant reticuloses.
bomb in Kensington
, London
on 23 October 1975. The bomb, placed under a car, was intended for Sir Hugh Fraser
. The Balcombe Street Gang were subsequently convicted for his murder. Brian Keenan
a senior IRA commander, was also apprehended and stood trial at the Old Bailey
in London in June 1980 accused of organising the IRA's bombing campaign in England and being implicated in the deaths of eight people including Gordon Hamilton-Fairley.
Keenan was sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment after being found guilty on 25 June 1980. Hamilton-Fairley had four children, the youngest of whom was 12 years old when he died. Hamilton-Fairley had been offered an appointment as the Queen's personal physician, but he turned it down, preferring to work with the public. More than 10,000 people attended his funeral, and the Queen sent a representative to pay her respects.
He is commemorated by a blue plaque
in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral
which reads: "Gordon Hamilton-Fairley DM FRCP, first professor of medical oncology, 1930-75. Killed by a terrorist bomb. It matters not how a man dies but how he lives". A ward at St Bartholomew's Hospital
was named after him.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, FRCP
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...
(20 April 1930 – 23 October 1975) was a professor of medical oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
. Born and raised in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, he moved to the United Kingdom
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...
where he studied and worked. He was killed by an IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
bomb intended to kill Sir Hugh Fraser
Hugh Fraser (politician)
Major Sir Hugh Charles Patrick Joseph Fraser MBE was a British Conservative politician and first husband of the author Lady Antonia Fraser.-Youth and military career:...
.
Life and work
The son of a research worker in tropical diseases (Sir Neil Hamilton FairleyNeil Hamilton Fairley
Brigadier Sir Neil Hamilton Fairley KBE CStJ FRACP FRCP FRCPE FRS was an Australian physician, medical scientist, and army officer; who was instrumental in saving thousands of Allied lives from malaria and other diseases....
), Fairley grew up in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He later studied at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, and St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Trained in hematology
Hematology
Hematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases...
as Leverhulme Research Scholar at 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...
, he continued his research with an emphasis on immunohematology.
In 1968 he became director of the Clinical Research Unit at the Institute of Cancer Research
Institute of Cancer Research
The Institute of Cancer Research is a cancer research institute located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The ICR was founded in 1909 as a research department of the Royal Marsden Hospital and joined the University of London in 2003...
. Two years afterward, he became director of the Medical Oncology Research Unit. In 1972 he was appointed Imperial Cancer Fund Professor of Oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
. As Professor of Medical Oncology at St. Bartholomew's Hospital he contributed a great deal to the chemotherapy and immunology of malignant disease, and, in particular, to the treatment of the malignant reticuloses.
Death
He was killed by a Provisional Irish Republican ArmyProvisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
bomb in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 23 October 1975. The bomb, placed under a car, was intended for Sir Hugh Fraser
Hugh Fraser (politician)
Major Sir Hugh Charles Patrick Joseph Fraser MBE was a British Conservative politician and first husband of the author Lady Antonia Fraser.-Youth and military career:...
. The Balcombe Street Gang were subsequently convicted for his murder. Brian Keenan
Brian Keenan
Brian Keenan may be:*Brian Keenan , Provisional Irish Republican Army member*Brian Keenan , United States musician...
a senior IRA commander, was also apprehended and stood trial at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
in London in June 1980 accused of organising the IRA's bombing campaign in England and being implicated in the deaths of eight people including Gordon Hamilton-Fairley.
Keenan was sentenced to eighteen years imprisonment after being found guilty on 25 June 1980. Hamilton-Fairley had four children, the youngest of whom was 12 years old when he died. Hamilton-Fairley had been offered an appointment as the Queen's personal physician, but he turned it down, preferring to work with the public. More than 10,000 people attended his funeral, and the Queen sent a representative to pay her respects.
He is commemorated by a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
which reads: "Gordon Hamilton-Fairley DM FRCP, first professor of medical oncology, 1930-75. Killed by a terrorist bomb. It matters not how a man dies but how he lives". A ward at St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
was named after him.
External links
- The Gordon Hamilton Fairley Fellowship e.g. Cancer Research UK webpage
- BACR (British Association for Cancer Research)/Gordon Hamilton Fairley Young Investigator Award.