William N. Robertson
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William N. Robertson (1866-1938) C.B.E. was a Scottish-Australian surgeon who served as Vice Chancellor of the University of Queensland. A suburb of Brisbane, Queensland is named for him.
Early life
William Nathaniel Robertson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1866, the son of the Rev. Peter Robertson and his wife[1][2]. He attended Royal High School in Edinburgh and enrolled in the University of Edinburgh in 1888, taking his Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery degrees in 1892[3]. He worked in hospitals in Scotland and London. His family emigrated to Australia and moved to Ipswich, Queensland. After completing his medical studies Robertson joined his family in Australia and opened a general medical practice. He later served as an ear, nose and throat specialist in Brisbane, and was an honorary surgeon with the Royal Brisbane Hospital and Mater Misericordiae Hospital[1].
Support for education
Robertson supported the establishment of a university in Queensland and was elected a member of the University of Queensland Senate in its second term. He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland, serving from 1926-1938. He was an advocate for education supporting Presbyterian schools and more affordable higher education[1].
War service work
He served as a Major in the Army Medical Corps during World War I in home service, and was a member of the Repatriation Board, Medical War Committee and Wounded Sailors and Soldiers’ Fund. He served on the medical faculty of the University. He was honoured with a Commander of the British Empire for his war time services in 1922[3].
Personal life
Robertson died June 12,1938 after a short illness[1]. He married Clara Pollard in 1899[2].They lived in Craigston, Brisbane where a number of other medical specialists maintained their residences and private rooms. They had four children.
Awards and memberships[1]
President of the British Medical Association, Queensland (four times)
Vice-President of the British Medical Association
Doctor of Laws of University of Edinburgh
Trustee, National Art Gallery
Member, Royal Geographical Society
Member, Rotary Club
Member, Crippled Children’s Association
Chairman, AMP Society, Queensland
Chairman, Johnsonian Club
Commander of the British Empire (CBE), 1922
Legacy
An annual scholarship continues to be presented in his name since 1984[4]. The suburb of Robertson in Brisbane was titled in his name.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Dr. W. N. Robertson's Death". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). 1938-06-13. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
- ^ a b "A Warwick Wedding". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 - 1908). 1899-05-11. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
- ^ a b "DR. W. N. ROBERTSON". Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934). 1931-06-03. p. 19. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
- ^ "William Nathaniel Robertson Scholarship". scholarships.uq.edu.au. 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2020-03-04.