Ronald Foote Robertson

PRCPE The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of three organisations that set the specialty training standards for physicians in the United Kingdom. It was established by royal charter in ...

(27 December 1920–11 April 1991) was a 20th-century Scottish physician who served as president of the

British Medical Association The British Medical Association (BMA) is a registered trade union and professional body for physician, doctors in the United Kingdom. It does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The BMA ...

1983/4 and president of the

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is a medical royal college in Scotland. It is one of three organisations that set the specialty training standards for physicians in the United Kingdom. It was established by royal charter i ...

for the period 1976 to 1979. He was official Physician in Scotland to

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

. He was affectionately known as Ronnie Robertson.

Life

He was born in

Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...

on 27 December 1920, the son of Mary Foot and Thomas Robertson. He was educated at

Perth Academy Perth Academy is a state comprehensive secondary school in Perth, Scotland. It was founded in 1696. The institution is a non-denominational one. The school occupies ground on the side of a hill in the Viewlands area of Perth, and is within the P ...

, where he was dux, then studied medicine 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 ...

graduating with an MB ChB in 1945. He was a clinical tutor at the

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) was established in 1729, and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest voluntary hospital in the United Kingdom, and later on, the Empire."In Comi ...

and gained his doctorate (MD) in 1953. He was Consultant Physician at both the Deaconess and

Leith Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith. The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...

Hospital then returned to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he remained for the rest of his career. He became a Fellow of the

in 1953 and in 1976 succeeded

John Crofton Sir John Wenman Crofton (27 March 1912 – 3 November 2009) was a pioneer in the treatment of tuberculosis, who also spent the better part of his life raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco. Early life and family Crofton was born ...

as their President. He was succeeded in turn in 1979 by

John Anderson Strong John Anderson Strong (18 February 1915 – 15 December 2012) was a Scottish physician/internist and academic, who served as Professor of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and the President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburg ...

. He served numerous senior medical roles and was the Queen's official physician for eight years, during which time he was created a Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) in 1980. His less known roles include advisor to the Scottish Home and Health Department, to various life insurance companies and to the

Merchant Company of Edinburgh The Royal Company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh, previously known as the Merchant Company of Edinburgh is a mercantile company and Guild officially recognised in 1681, but dating back to at least 1260. The Company, or Confraternity, was ...

. In 1959 Robertson was elected a member of the

Harveian Society of Edinburgh The Harveian Society of Edinburgh was founded in April 1782 by Andrew Duncan (physician, born 1744), Andrew Duncan. The Society holds an annual Festival in honour of the life and works of William Harvey, the physician who first correctly des ...

and served as President in 1986. He was elected to the

Aesculapian Club The Aesculapian Club of Edinburgh is one of the oldest medical dining clubs in the world. It was founded in April 1773 by Dr. Andrew Duncan. Membership of the club is limited to 11 Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and ...

in 1969. He died on 11 April 1991.

Family

He married Dorothy Tweedy Wilkinson in 1949, together they had three daughters, one of which is deceased.

Artistic Recognition

His portrait by Ian Hughes is held by the

Publications

*''Some Aspects of Neurology'' (1968) *''Liver Disease'' (1972)

References

1920 births 1991 deaths Health professionals from Aberdeen People educated at Perth Academy Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Presidents of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 20th-century Scottish medical doctors Office bearers of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh Members of the Harveian Society of Edinburgh {{Scotland-med-bio-stub