Dr Robert Machray

Dr Robert Machray CVO MBBS FFARCS MRCS LRCP DA

21/05/1906 to 21/01/1968

Place of birth:  Lewisham, London

Nationality: British

CRN: 715383

Education and qualifications

General education

Beckenham County School; Westminster Hospital Medical School

Primary medical qualification(s)

MRCS LRCP, 1929

Initial Fellowship and type

FFARCS by Election

Year of Fellowship

1948

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.