John Alexander Fraser Roberts (8 September 1899 – 15 January 1987) was a Welsh geneticist and psychiatrist.

Life

He was born on 8 September 1899 at Foxhall, Henllan, near

Denbigh Denbigh ( ; ) is a market town and a community (Wales), community in Denbighshire, Wales. It was the original county town of the Denbighshire (historic), historic county of Denbighshire created in 1536. Denbigh's Welsh name () translates to ...

, north-east Wales, the first son of Robert Henry Roberts (1868–1951) a farmer, and his wife, Elizabeth (Lily) Mary Fraser. His mother was the daughter of Alexander Fraser of

Caernarfon Caernarfon (; ) is a List of place names with royal patronage in the United Kingdom, royal town, Community (Wales), community and port in Gwynedd, Wales. It has a population of 9,852 (with Caeathro). It lies along the A487 road, on the easter ...

, from a long line of Scottish Highland drapers. He was educated at Denbigh Grammar School. His studies of Sciences at

Bangor University Bangor University () is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. It was established by Royal charter, Royal Charter in 1885 as the University College of North Wales (UCNW; ), and in 1893 ...

where interrupted by the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

during which (due to age) he served only in the final year, as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Returning to Bangor he graduated BSc in 1920. He then went to

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

graduating BA in 1922 and MA in 1925. With these new gained qualifications he joined the staff of Burden Mental Research Department at Stoke Park Colony in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

. He then won a place at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

as a postgraduate first gaining a doctorate (DSc) in 1933 then studying medicine and graduated with a MB ChB in 1936. In 1926, aged 26, he was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was establis ...

. His proposers were Francis Albert Eley Crew, James Cossar Ewart, James Hartley Ashworth, and Alexander Lauder. In 1963 he was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of London The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, r ...

. In the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he served as a surgeon commander in the

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original ...

. From 1942, he acted as a consultant on medical statistics to the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

. After the war he returned to the Stoke Park Colony as Director of the Burden Mental Research Department, staying there until 1957. In 1964 he was appointed Geneticist at the Paediatric Research Unit of

Guy's Hospital Guy's Hospital is an NHS hospital founded by philanthropist Thomas Guy in 1721, located in the borough of Southwark in central London. It is part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and one of the institutions that comprise the Kin ...

Medical School in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. From 1957 to 1959 he was President of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. He retired in 1981 and died on 15 January 1987.

Family

In 1941, he married Welsh actress

Doris Hare Doris Breamer Hare (1 March 1905 – 30 May 2000) was a Welsh actress, comedian, singer, and dancer best known for portraying Ethel Butler in the British sitcom ''On the Buses'' and its film spin-offs, after replacing the original actress Cicel ...

and they were married 32 years until their divorce in 1973. The marriage produced two daughters. After divorcing, he married Margaret Ralph in 1975.

Publications

*''An Introduction to Medical Genetics'' (1940) with later editions

References

1899 births 1987 deaths Welsh geneticists Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal Society Fellows of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Presidents of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland British military personnel of World War I Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II Royal Welch Fusiliers officers Welsh people of Scottish descent Royal Navy Medical Service officers Alumni of Bangor University {{UK-scientist-stub