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William Taylor (ophthalmologist)

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William Oswald Gibson Taylor FRCPGLAS (16 March 1912 – 4 September 1989) was a Scottish consultant ophthalmologist who became a leading expert on albinism.[1][2] In 1979 he founded the Albinism Fellowship in the United Kingdom.[3][4]

Education and early career

William Taylor graduated from the University of Glasgow, (MB, ChB) in 1934.[2] Following graduation, Taylor decided to specialise in ophthalmology, working at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary.[2] His research interests began in 1938 at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.[2] In 1940 he joined the British Army and served as an ophthalmologist in East Africa and Scotland during World War II.[2] In 1945 he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.[2]

In February 1946 he was the unsuccessful Scottish National Party candidate at the Glasgow Cathcart by-election, 1946 to become Member of Parliament for the Glasgow Cathcart (UK Parliament constituency).[2] Later that year he was appointed as consultant ophthalmologist at Kilmarnock Infirmary in Ayrshire.[2]

Albinism

Over thirty years Taylor developed the orthoptic department into a 36-bed unit with three consultants and research facilities.[2] He published numerous scientific papers on various subjects, notably epicanthus, colour vision and albinism.[2] Through his research on colour vision, Taylor developed a specific interest in albinism.[1] He became one of the world's leading experts on the subject; continuing his research until his death aged 77.[1][5]

In 1979 he established the Albinism Fellowship to provide information, advice and support for people with albinism, their families and other interested parties.[3] He travelled the world as the international organiser of the Albinism Fellowship.[1]

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Death of world expert on albinos". The Herald (Glasgow). 8 September 1989. p. 8. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Obituary - William Taylor". British Medical Journal. 16 December 1989. pp. 1519–1520. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Why white is all right". The Independent. 11 May 1995. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  4. ^ Hill, Adrian R. (1990). "William Taylor and the Albino Fellowship". Ophthalmic Paediatrics and Genetics. 11 (3): 155–157. doi:10.3109/13816819009020973. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  5. ^ William Taylor publications indexed by Microsoft Academic