William Job Collins
Encyclopedia
Sir William Job Collins KCVO
(9 May 1859, London – 11 December 1946, London) was a surgeon
and later a Liberal
politician and legislator.
, London, and began his medical training at St Bartholomew's Hospital
, where he became ophthalmic
house surgeon, extern midwifery assistant and assistant demonstrator of anatomy at the medical school. His Times
obituary reported that "his further progress toward the staff of the school was barred by the heterodox
views he held, and freely expressed, on the subject of vaccination".
He subsequently became a Fellow, Scholar and gold medallist in Sanitary Science and Obstetrics at the University of London
, graduating as BSc
in 1880 and MD
in 1881.
Along with Charles Creighton
and Edgar Crookshank
, he become one of a small number of medical critics of smallpox vaccination in the late 19th century. He was also a member of the Royal Commission on Vaccination, 1889-1896.
He later specialised in anatomy and ophthalmology, in 1918 receiving the University of Oxford
Doyne Ophthalmic Medal
, having been knighted in 1902. He served two terms as Vice-Chancellor of the University of London
in 1907-1909 and 1911-12.
in 1892, reaching the office of chairman in 1897. In 1904, Collins was the first chairman of the education committee, which laid the foundation of the education service in London.
He was elected Liberal
Member of Parliament
(MP) for St Pancras West
, 1906–1910, and for Derby
in 1917-18. In parliament he was particularly instrumental in promoting the Metropolitan Ambulance Act, that resulted in the establishment of the London ambulance service.
He served on various government committees, including the Vivisection Committee 1906-1912, as British plenipotentiary
at the international opium conferences
at The Hague
, 1911–1914, the Sussex Agricultural Wages Committee, and the Select Committee on the Hop
Industry.
He was awarded a KCVO
in 1914, and served as Vice-Lieutenant of the County of London, 1925-1945.
. Jane was a sister at the National Temperance Hospital
in Hampstead Road.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(9 May 1859, London – 11 December 1946, London) was a 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...
and later a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and legislator.
Background
He was born at 46 Gloucester Road, Regents Park, London, the eldest son of William Job Collins (also a doctor) and Mary Anne Francisca (née Treacher). He attended University College SchoolUniversity College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
, London, and began his medical training 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...
, where he became ophthalmic
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
house surgeon, extern midwifery assistant and assistant demonstrator of anatomy at the medical school. His Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
obituary reported that "his further progress toward the staff of the school was barred by the heterodox
Heterodoxy
Heterodoxy is generally defined as "any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position". As an adjective, heterodox is commonly used to describe a subject as "characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards"...
views he held, and freely expressed, on the subject of vaccination".
He subsequently became a Fellow, Scholar and gold medallist in Sanitary Science and Obstetrics at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, graduating as BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1880 and MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1881.
Along with Charles Creighton
Charles Creighton
Charles Creighton was a British physician and medical author. He was highly regarded for his scholarly writings on medical history but was widely denounced for disputing the germ theory of infectious diseases....
and Edgar Crookshank
Edgar Crookshank
Edgar March Crookshank was an English physician and microbiologist.- Biography :Crookshank studied at King's College London and qualified for medicine in 1881. He served briefly as an assistant to Joseph Lister, a physician noted for his work promoting antiseptics and sterile surgery...
, he become one of a small number of medical critics of smallpox vaccination in the late 19th century. He was also a member of the Royal Commission on Vaccination, 1889-1896.
He later specialised in anatomy and ophthalmology, in 1918 receiving the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
Doyne Ophthalmic Medal
Robert Walter Doyne
Robert Walter Doyne was a British ophthalmologist. He studied medicine in Oxford, Bristol and St. George's Hospital in London. In 1886 he founded the Oxford Eye Hospital, and in 1909 became the first president of the Oxford Ophthalmological Congress....
, having been knighted in 1902. He served two terms as Vice-Chancellor of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1907-1909 and 1911-12.
Political career
In later life he turned to politics, elected as member of London County Council for St PancrasSt Pancras, London
St Pancras is an area of London. For many centuries the name has been used for various officially-designated areas, but now is used informally and rarely having been largely superseded by several other names for overlapping districts.-Ancient parish:...
in 1892, reaching the office of chairman in 1897. In 1904, Collins was the first chairman of the education committee, which laid the foundation of the education service in London.
He was elected Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for St Pancras West
St Pancras West (UK Parliament constituency)
St. Pancras West was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election and...
, 1906–1910, and for Derby
Derby (UK Parliament constituency)
Derby is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950. It was represented by two Members of...
in 1917-18. In parliament he was particularly instrumental in promoting the Metropolitan Ambulance Act, that resulted in the establishment of the London ambulance service.
He served on various government committees, including the Vivisection Committee 1906-1912, as British plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
at the international opium conferences
International Opium Convention
The International Opium Convention, signed at The Hague on January 23, 1912 during the First International Opium Conference, was the first international drug control treaty. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on January 23, 1922...
at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, 1911–1914, the Sussex Agricultural Wages Committee, and the Select Committee on the Hop
Hop (plant)
Humulus, Hop, is a small genus of flowering plants native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The female flowers of H. lupulus are known as hops, and are used as a culinary flavoring and stabilizer, especially in the brewing of beer...
Industry.
He was awarded a KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1914, and served as Vice-Lieutenant of the County of London, 1925-1945.
Personal life
On 2 August 1898 Collins married Jane Stevenson Wilson (c,1855-1936), daughter of John Wilson, MP for GovanGovan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
. Jane was a sister at the National Temperance Hospital
National Temperance Hospital
The National Temperance Hospital is an abandoned hospital in Hampstead Road, London, near Camden Town. It opened on 6 October 1873 by initiative of the National Temperance League, and was managed by a board of 12 teetotallers...
in Hampstead Road.
Publications
- 1883 Sir Lyon Playfair's Logic LONDON: E.W. ALLEN
- 1883 A Review of the Norwich Vaccination Inquiry LONDON: E.W. ALLEN
- 1884 Specificity and Evolution in Disease
See also
- South Camden Community School formerly Sir William Collins Secondary School, named after him.
- List of members of London County Council 1889 - 1919 where he is listed for Saint Pancras (West)St Pancras West (UK Parliament constituency)St. Pancras West was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election and...