John Herbert Parsons facts for kids

Sir John Herbert Parsons (born September 3, 1863, in Bristol; died October 7, 1957, in London) was a very important British eye doctor and surgeon. He was known as an ophthalmologist, which is a doctor who specializes in eyes. He received many special awards for his work, like the CBE and being a Fellow of the Royal Society.

His Early Life and Learning

John Herbert Parsons went to several well-known schools. He studied at the University of Bristol and University College London. He also learned a lot at St Bartholomew's Hospital. He earned his first degree in physiology in 1890. This was followed by more medical qualifications in 1891 and 1892.

His Amazing Career and Research

After finishing his studies, Parsons started working at University College London. He was an assistant in the Department of Physiology. For several years, he also practiced medicine in Finchley. Later, he began working at Moorfields Eye Hospital, which is a famous eye hospital.

In 1900, he earned more important medical degrees. At Moorfields, he quickly moved up. He became a curator and librarian. Then, in 1904, he was chosen to be part of the surgical team. He also became an eye surgeon at University College Hospital. He worked at both Moorfields and University College Hospital until he retired. For some years, he was also an eye surgeon at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street.

Understanding Eye Diseases

Parsons became a world expert in eye diseases. He wrote many research papers and several books. His books covered topics like eye diseases, how eyes work, and blood flow in the eyes.

One of his most famous books was Diseases of the Eye. This book was first published in 1907. It was a great guide for students and doctors. It was so popular that new versions were needed all the time. His first major work was a huge book called The Pathology of the Eye. This book came out in four parts between 1904 and 1908. In this book, he brought together all the knowledge about eye diseases. He made it a complete field of study on its own.

Helping the Public

Parsons also helped the government with important issues. He worked on committees that looked at vision tests. He also helped with ways to prevent blindness. He even advised on how to make sure factories had proper lighting.

During World War I, he was a special eye surgeon for the army. He held the rank of Colonel. For his important work, he received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1919. From 1928 to 1932, he was a member of the Medical Research Council. This council helps decide what medical research gets funded.

His Impact on Eye Medicine

Parsons was one of the greatest leaders in eye medicine. He helped keep Britain at the top of eye care. He was smarter and stronger in character than many others. He understood that progress in eye medicine wasn't just about seeing patients. It also wasn't only about studying diseases in a lab. He knew that new discoveries would come from understanding how the body works. This included using ideas from physiology, physics, and chemistry. He had the energy and skill to follow these new ideas.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Sir John Herbert Parsons received many awards for his important work:

• 1904 and 1914 — Middlemore Prize
• 1907 — Nettleship Gold Medal
• 1919 — Doyne Medal from Oxford
• 1919 — C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
• 1921 — Fellow of the Royal Society (a very high honor for scientists)
• 1922 — Knighthood (which meant he became "Sir John")
• 1925 — Bowman Lectureship
• 1929 — He was an honored guest at the opening of the Wilmer Eye Institute in the United States.
• 1936 — Howe Medal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology
• 1936–1938 — President of the Royal Society of Medicine