John Lumsden
Encyclopedia
Sir John Lumsden KBE
(14 November 1869 - 3 September 1944) was an Irish
physician and the founder of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland
.
John Lumsden was born in Drogheda
, County Louth, Ireland. He was a medical doctor.
Dr. Lumsden's father (also named John Lumsden) had come from Scotland
via India
to work in a bank in Armagh
and later moved to Dublin in 1867 to work for the Provincial Bank. Dr. Lumsden's father was a keen golfer and Dr. Lumsden worked with his father and his brother in setting up a rough and ready golf course in 1885 west of the Phoenix Cricket Club, thus establishing Ireland's second oldest golf club, the Dublin Golf Club. His father later helped the Dublin Golf Club become the Royal Dublin Golf Club in 1891.
In 1896 Dr. John Lumsden married Caroline Frances Kingscote, daughter of Major Fitzhardinge Kingscote and Agnes Grant Stuart, and their first child, John Fitzhardinge Lumsden, was born on June 11, 1897. At the time of the birth they were living at Dr. Lumsden's parents house but, soon after, moved out to 4 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, where Dr. Lumsden also had a medical practice on the first floor.
Their first child was soon followed by sisters: Leslie, born in 1898, Norah in 1900, Margery in 1908 and twins, Nancy and Betty born in 1911.
in Dublin and in 1902 was the Principal Medical Officer for the Commissioners of Irish Lights. However, it was his role as the Medical Officer (later Chief Medical Officer) at the Guinness Brewery that Dr. Lumsden made his name.
The Guinness family had a tradition of noblesse oblige
and philanthropy
and therefore Dr. Lumsden's work for Guinness focussed on the well-being of the employees, many of whom lived in appalling conditions in the slums and tenements of inner city Dublin.
After the Great Irish Famine (1845-1846) many people moved from rural areas of Ireland into cities such as Dublin looking for food and work. This resulted in overcrowding with 33.9 percent of all families in Dublin each living in a single room. Poverty and cramped conditions led to problems of disease and by 1881 Dublin had the highest death rate in Europe.
Dr. Lumsden saw a high rate of tuberculosis
amongst Guinness employees and knew that overcrowding was probably a factor. In 1900 he got the approval of the Guinness board to spend two months inspecting the homes of each Guinness employee in order to ensure that they lived in proper housing and to look for ways to prevent or treat the disease. The main Iveagh Trust
buildings built in 1903-05 were designed accordingly. He also studied the diets of the employees and established cookery classes for the wives of Guinness employees. Finally, he helped to set up the first Guinness sports club.
In his post as Medical Officer Dr. Lumsden was asked to provide first-aid classes for employees at the Guinness Brewery at St. James's Gate
The classes became so popular that they later became the first registered division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland
, which Dr. Lumsden founded in 1903 and became the first Commissioner
. He remained Commissioner until his death.
The Brigade was involved with many major events in Irish history, including treating casualties from the clashes during the General Strike of 1913 (sometimes referred to as the Dublin Lockout
). However, the Brigade became prominent in Dublin during the Easter Rising
of 1916 where it treated casualties on both sides and fed and cared for evacuees. During the fighting in the streets of Dublin Dr. Lumsden became a familiar figure as he dashed out carrying a white flag and his medical kit to tend to the wounded on both sides. He was knighted by King George V for these acts and for the formation of the St. John Ambulance Society and became Sir John Lumsden KBE
.
Sir John also encouraged Brigade members to be blood donors and advertised in the Irish national papers for people to register in order to set up an 'on call' blood donor panel to serve hospitals in the Dublin area. The service later became the National Blood Transfusion Association in 1948 but owes its origin to the Brigade and more especially to Sir John Lumsden.
In 1923, after the establishment of the Irish Free State, Sir John wrote to the President of the Council of the Irish Free State
to start the process of breaking the Brigade away from the control of the British Red Cross
Society and the Order of the St John of Jerusalem. This led to the Brigade becoming an Associated Body and completely independent from the English based St. John Ambulance and further led to the formation of the Irish Red Cross Society in 1939. Sir John was one of the first members of the Irish Red Cross
.
Co. Dublin where he practiced his other passion; gardening. When Sir John moved into Earlscliffe the gardens, according to his daughter, Betty L'Estrange, were "virtually shrubless and flowerless" He set about transforming the garden, planting shrubs and building a number of terraces. He also celebrated his work at the St John Ambulance Brigade by building a Maltese Cross sundial at Earlscliffe, which gave him "enormous pleasure". This sundial can still be seen today at Earlscliffe.
Sir John died on 3 September 1944.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(14 November 1869 - 3 September 1944) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
physician and the founder of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland
St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland
The St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland is a charitable voluntary organisation in the Republic of Ireland. For constitutional reasons it is not a full member association of the Venerable Order of Saint John and the international St. John Ambulance movement, but rather is classed as an...
.
Early years
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, County Louth, Ireland. He was a medical doctor.
Dr. Lumsden's father (also named John Lumsden) had come from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
via India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to work in a bank in Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
and later moved to Dublin in 1867 to work for the Provincial Bank. Dr. Lumsden's father was a keen golfer and Dr. Lumsden worked with his father and his brother in setting up a rough and ready golf course in 1885 west of the Phoenix Cricket Club, thus establishing Ireland's second oldest golf club, the Dublin Golf Club. His father later helped the Dublin Golf Club become the Royal Dublin Golf Club in 1891.
In 1896 Dr. John Lumsden married Caroline Frances Kingscote, daughter of Major Fitzhardinge Kingscote and Agnes Grant Stuart, and their first child, John Fitzhardinge Lumsden, was born on June 11, 1897. At the time of the birth they were living at Dr. Lumsden's parents house but, soon after, moved out to 4 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, where Dr. Lumsden also had a medical practice on the first floor.
Their first child was soon followed by sisters: Leslie, born in 1898, Norah in 1900, Margery in 1908 and twins, Nancy and Betty born in 1911.
Lifetime achievements
Dr. Lumsden was a physician on the staff of Mercer's HospitalMercer's Hospital
Mercer's Hospital in Dublin, Ireland is a former hospital, converted in the 1990s into a medical centre, part of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.-History:...
in Dublin and in 1902 was the Principal Medical Officer for the Commissioners of Irish Lights. However, it was his role as the Medical Officer (later Chief Medical Officer) at the Guinness Brewery that Dr. Lumsden made his name.
The Guinness family had a tradition of noblesse oblige
Noblesse oblige
Noblesse oblige is a French phrase literally meaning "nobility obliges".The Dictionnaire de l’Académie française defines it thus:# Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly....
and philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
and therefore Dr. Lumsden's work for Guinness focussed on the well-being of the employees, many of whom lived in appalling conditions in the slums and tenements of inner city Dublin.
After the Great Irish Famine (1845-1846) many people moved from rural areas of Ireland into cities such as Dublin looking for food and work. This resulted in overcrowding with 33.9 percent of all families in Dublin each living in a single room. Poverty and cramped conditions led to problems of disease and by 1881 Dublin had the highest death rate in Europe.
Dr. Lumsden saw a high rate of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
amongst Guinness employees and knew that overcrowding was probably a factor. In 1900 he got the approval of the Guinness board to spend two months inspecting the homes of each Guinness employee in order to ensure that they lived in proper housing and to look for ways to prevent or treat the disease. The main Iveagh Trust
Iveagh Trust
The Iveagh Trust is a provider of affordable housing in and around Dublin, Ireland. It was initially a component of the Guinness Trust, founded in 1890 by Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, great-grandson of the founder of the Guinness Brewery, to help homeless people in Dublin and London...
buildings built in 1903-05 were designed accordingly. He also studied the diets of the employees and established cookery classes for the wives of Guinness employees. Finally, he helped to set up the first Guinness sports club.
In his post as Medical Officer Dr. Lumsden was asked to provide first-aid classes for employees at the Guinness Brewery at St. James's Gate
St. James's Gate
St. James's Gate, located off the south quays of Dublin, on James Street, was the western entrance to the city during the Middle Ages. During this time it was the traditional starting point for the Dublin pilgrimage Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Now central to a industrial area, St...
The classes became so popular that they later became the first registered division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland
St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland
The St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland is a charitable voluntary organisation in the Republic of Ireland. For constitutional reasons it is not a full member association of the Venerable Order of Saint John and the international St. John Ambulance movement, but rather is classed as an...
, which Dr. Lumsden founded in 1903 and became the first Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
. He remained Commissioner until his death.
The Brigade was involved with many major events in Irish history, including treating casualties from the clashes during the General Strike of 1913 (sometimes referred to as the Dublin Lockout
Dublin Lockout
The Dublin Lock-out was a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers which took place in Ireland's capital city of Dublin. The dispute lasted from 26 August 1913 to 18 January 1914, and is often viewed as the most severe and significant industrial dispute in...
). However, the Brigade became prominent in Dublin during the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
of 1916 where it treated casualties on both sides and fed and cared for evacuees. During the fighting in the streets of Dublin Dr. Lumsden became a familiar figure as he dashed out carrying a white flag and his medical kit to tend to the wounded on both sides. He was knighted by King George V for these acts and for the formation of the St. John Ambulance Society and became Sir John Lumsden KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Sir John also encouraged Brigade members to be blood donors and advertised in the Irish national papers for people to register in order to set up an 'on call' blood donor panel to serve hospitals in the Dublin area. The service later became the National Blood Transfusion Association in 1948 but owes its origin to the Brigade and more especially to Sir John Lumsden.
In 1923, after the establishment of the Irish Free State, Sir John wrote to the President of the Council of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
to start the process of breaking the Brigade away from the control of the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
Society and the Order of the St John of Jerusalem. This led to the Brigade becoming an Associated Body and completely independent from the English based St. John Ambulance and further led to the formation of the Irish Red Cross Society in 1939. Sir John was one of the first members of the Irish Red Cross
Irish Red Cross
The Irish Red Cross Society , commonly referred to as the Irish Red Cross , is the National Red Cross Society in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by Nurse Elizabeth O'Herrin either on 1 July or 1 August 1939 on the approach of the Second World War...
.
Later years
In 1930 Sir John moved into Earlscliffe in Baily, HowthHowth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
Co. Dublin where he practiced his other passion; gardening. When Sir John moved into Earlscliffe the gardens, according to his daughter, Betty L'Estrange, were "virtually shrubless and flowerless" He set about transforming the garden, planting shrubs and building a number of terraces. He also celebrated his work at the St John Ambulance Brigade by building a Maltese Cross sundial at Earlscliffe, which gave him "enormous pleasure". This sundial can still be seen today at Earlscliffe.
Sir John died on 3 September 1944.
External links
- www.thePeerage.com
- The Royal Dublin Golf Club website
- www.earlscliffe.com
- The Goodness of Guinness
- Reminiscences of Sir Charles Cameron
- The St John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland
- History of Blood Transfusion
See also
- St. John Ambulance Brigade of IrelandSt. John Ambulance Brigade of IrelandThe St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland is a charitable voluntary organisation in the Republic of Ireland. For constitutional reasons it is not a full member association of the Venerable Order of Saint John and the international St. John Ambulance movement, but rather is classed as an...