Dr Robert Machray
21/05/1906 to 21/01/1968
Place of birth: Lewisham, London
Nationality: British
CRN: 715383
Education and qualifications
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General education |
Beckenham County School; Westminster Hospital Medical School |
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Primary medical qualification(s) |
MRCS LRCP, 1929 |
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Initial Fellowship and type |
FFARCS by Election |
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Year of Fellowship |
1948 |
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Other qualification(s) |
MBBS, London, 1931 |
Professional life and career
Postgraduate career
Machray was sequentially house surgeon, house physician and house anaesthetist at the Westminster Hospital. In 1931, at the young age of 25, he was appointed to the honorary staff of the Westminster, joined the Brompton a year later, and also worked at Mount Vernon, Hammersmith (LCC Plastics Clinic) and Thoracic (St James) Hospitals. These commitments continued until his death.
Professional interests and activities
Self taught like most of his generation, he read widely to keep up to date, writing mostly review articles rather than carrying out research. A pioneer of anaesthesia for thoracic surgery he undertook tours abroad and anaesthetised King George VIth for a pneumonectomy in 1951, receiving the CVO for his services. He served a term on the Council of the AAGBI, but a quiet man, he declined further involvement.
Other biographical information
Married to Freda Mary Eveley in 1936, they had three children: Alastair, Caroline and Rosamund. He enjoyed walking the Scottish hills and travel abroad, especially to Paris where he had friends.
Author and Sources
Author: Prof Tony Wildsmith
Sources and any other comments: Obituary. Anaesthesia 1968; 23: 308-9 | Conacher ID. The King’s anaesthetic. J Med Biog 2015; 23: 139-45 | Ancestry.co.uk | Medical Directory | Thanks to Dr Neil Soni for obtaining the picture of Dr Machray drawn when he gave the lecture after the Shrove Tuesday Dinner for medical students at the Westminster.