Richard Henry Austin Swain
FRSE
Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This so ...
FRCPE FRCPath (6 February 1910 – 11 May 1981) was a British virologist, bacteriologist and pathologist. He was fondly known as Dick Swain.
Life
He was born in
Wimbledon on 6 February 1910, the son of master builder, Charles Henry Swain. He was educated at
Cheltonian College and
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is a 2–19 independent, day and boarding school for boys in Dulwich, London, England. As a public school, it began as the College of God's Gift, founded in 1619 by Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn, with the original purpose o ...
, going on to study medicine at the
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
.
In 1939 he began as a demonstrator in pathology at
St Bartholomew's Hospital, London
St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust.
History
Early history
Barts was founded in 1123 by Rahere (died ...
. In 1942 he joined the
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps ...
and served as a military pathologist with the Central Mediterranean Forces. He was demobbed in 1946. In 1949 he joined the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
as lecturer then reader in pathology and virology. In 1949 he was elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh 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 established i ...
. His proposers were
Thomas J. Mackie
Thomas Jones Mackie CBE FRSE LLD (5 June 1888 – 6 October 1955) was a noted Scottish bacteriologist; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Edinburgh; and author of medical research textbooks.
Life
He was born in Hamilton, South La ...
,
James Pickering Kendall
James Pickering Kendall FRS FRSE (30 July 1889, in Chobham, Surrey – 14 June 1978, in Edinburgh) was a British chemist.
Life
Kendall was born in Chobham, Surrey to soldier William Henry Kendall of the Royal Horse Artillery, and his second w ...
,
Alexander Murray Drennan
Alexander Murray Drennan FRSE FRCPE (4 January 1884 – 29 February 1984) was a Scottish pathologist. In the First World War, he promoted the widespread use of Edinburgh University Solution (sold under the brand name of Eusol).
A keen yachtsm ...
and
John Gaddum
Sir John Henry Gaddum (31 March 1900 – 30 June 1965) was an English pharmacologist who, with Ulf von Euler, co-discovered the neuropeptide Substance P in 1931. He was a founder member of the British Pharmacological Society and first editor ...
. In 1951 he was elected a member of the
Harveian Society of Edinburgh.
He died in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
on 11 May 1981.
Family
He married
Margaret Helen Hart. They were parents to
Catherine Fiona Swain.
Publications
*''Clinical Virology'' (1967)
*''Medical Microbiology'' (joint author)
References
1910 births
1981 deaths
People educated at Dulwich College
Alumni of the University of Cambridge
British virologists
Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Former members of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh
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