John Alexander Fraser Roberts facts for kids
John Alexander Fraser Roberts (1899–1987) was an important British scientist. He was a geneticist, which means he studied how traits are passed down from parents to children. He was also a psychiatrist, a doctor who helps people with their mental health. He received many special honors for his work, including the CBE and being a Fellow of the Royal Society.
His Life and Work
John Alexander Fraser Roberts was born on September 8, 1899, in a place called Foxhall, near Denbigh in Wales. His father, Robert Henry Roberts, was a farmer. His mother, Elizabeth Mary Fraser, came from a family of Scottish drapers.
He went to Denbigh Grammar School for his early education. He started studying science at Bangor University. His studies were paused because of the First World War. He served in the army for a short time as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. After the war, he returned to Bangor and earned his science degree in 1920.
He then continued his studies at Cambridge University, getting more degrees in 1922 and 1925. With these qualifications, he started working at the Burden Mental Research Department. This department was part of the Stoke Park Colony in Bristol.
Later, he went to the University of Edinburgh for more advanced studies. He earned a doctorate degree in 1933. He then studied medicine and became a doctor in 1936.
In 1926, when he was 26, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a special honor for top scientists in Scotland. Later, in 1963, he was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is one of the highest honors for scientists in the United Kingdom.
During the Second World War, he served in the navy as a Surgeon Commander. From 1942, he helped the Royal Navy by giving advice on medical statistics.
After the war, he went back to the Stoke Park Colony. He became the Director of the Burden Mental Research Department and stayed there until 1957. In 1964, he became a geneticist at Guy's Hospital Medical School in London. He also served as the President of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland from 1957 to 1959. This institute studies human societies and cultures.
He retired in 1981. John Alexander Fraser Roberts passed away on January 15, 1987. He was married to the British actress Doris Hare. She was famous for appearing in the TV show On The Buses. They had two daughters together.
