Sir Berkeley George Andrew Moynihan, Lord Moynihan of Leeds, 1865-1936

Lord Moynihan has been described as being to Leeds and British surgery as John B. Murphy, MD FACS, was to Chicago and American surgery. He was noted for his brilliance, skill and fame as a surgeon in Britain. His lectures, publications, teaching skill, and leadership qualities were recognized with many awards and honors in his lifetime.

Lord Moynihan was educated at Leeds Medical School, where he ultimately became professor of surgery. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1890, and served as its president from 1926-31. He demonstrated his leadership during World War I when he was appointed chairman of the Army Advisory Board and of the Council of Consultants. By 1919 he had achieved the rank of Major-General.

In 1913, Lord Moynihan founded the British Journal of Surgery and served as consulting editor for Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, the official journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Known to be a great champion of international cooperation in surgery, and a great friend and admirer of America, Lord Moynihan traveled to North America nearly every year and was named an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1917. He delivered the first Murphy Oration in 1920 at the College’s Clinical Congress in Montreal in which he paid the highest tribute to John B. Murphy, MD, FACS. In 1919, he was leader of the delegation of British surgeons presenting the Great Mace to the American College of Surgeons, in appreciation for the North American surgeons’ assistance in the First World War.

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