John Lumsden facts for kids
Sir John Lumsden (born November 14, 1869 – died September 3, 1944) was an important Irish doctor. He is best known for his work as the main doctor at the Guinness Brewery. While working there, he started the St James's Gate Football Club and the St John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland. During a big event called the Easter Rising in 1916, he bravely helped anyone who was hurt, no matter which side they were fighting on.
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Early Life and Family
John Lumsden was born in Drogheda, a town in County Louth, Ireland. His father, also named John Lumsden, was a bank manager. His mother was Florence Isabella Groom Lumsden. His father had moved from Scotland to work in a bank in Ireland.
In 1885, when John was a teenager, he helped his father and brother create a simple golf course. This course became the second oldest golf club in Ireland, known today as the Royal Dublin Golf Club.
In 1896, John Lumsden married Caroline Frances Kingscote. Their first child, John Fitzhardinge Lumsden, was born in 1897. Soon after, they moved to Dublin, where Lumsden also had his medical office. They later had five daughters: Leslie, Norah, Margery, and twins Nancy and Betty.
Helping People at Guinness
Lumsden worked as a doctor at Mercer's Hospital in Dublin. But he became most famous for his job as the Chief Medical Officer at the Guinness Brewery.
The Guinness family cared a lot about their employees and the community. So, Lumsden's main goal at Guinness was to improve the health and lives of the workers. Many employees lived in very poor conditions in crowded parts of Dublin.
Improving Living Conditions
After the Great Irish Famine in the mid-1800s, many people moved to cities like Dublin looking for food and work. This caused severe overcrowding. Many families lived in just one room. These cramped conditions led to many diseases. By 1881, Dublin had the highest death rate in all of Europe.
Lumsden noticed that many Guinness employees suffered from tuberculosis, a serious lung disease. He believed that overcrowding was a major reason for this. In 1900, he got permission from the Guinness company to visit the homes of all employees. He wanted to make sure they had proper housing and to find ways to prevent or treat illnesses.
His work helped lead to the building of the Iveagh Trust buildings between 1903 and 1905. These buildings provided better homes for many people. He also studied what employees ate and started cooking classes for the wives of Guinness workers. He even helped set up the first Guinness sports club, which included the St James's Gate Football Club.
Founding St. John Ambulance
As the Medical Officer, Lumsden was asked to teach first-aid classes to Guinness employees. These classes became very popular. They soon grew into the first official group of the St. John Ambulance Brigade of Ireland. Lumsden founded this organization in 1903 and was its first leader until he died.
The St. John Ambulance Brigade played a vital role in many important events in Irish history. They helped people injured during the General Strike of 1913, also known as the Dublin Lockout.
Bravery During the Easter Rising
The brigade became especially well-known during the Easter Rising in 1916. During this time of fighting in Dublin, Lumsden became a familiar sight. He would bravely rush out into the streets, carrying a white flag and his medical bag. He treated wounded people from both sides of the conflict. The brigade also fed and cared for people who had to leave their homes because of the fighting.
For his brave actions and for starting the St. John Ambulance Society, King George V knighted him. He became known as Sir John Lumsden.
Starting Blood Donation Services
Sir John also encouraged members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade to become blood donors. He placed advertisements in Irish newspapers asking people to sign up to be "on call" blood donors. This service helped hospitals in Dublin get blood when they needed it. This early effort eventually led to the creation of the National Blood Transfusion Association in 1948.
In 1923, after the Irish Free State was formed, Sir John worked to make the St. John Ambulance Brigade independent. He wanted it to be separate from the British Red Cross Society. This led to the brigade becoming fully independent from the English-based St. John Ambulance. It also helped in the formation of the Irish Red Cross Society in 1939.
Later Years and Hobbies
In 1930, Lumsden moved to a place called Earlscliffe in Howth, County Dublin. Here, he enjoyed his other great passion: gardening. When he moved in, the gardens were almost empty of plants. He worked hard to transform them, planting many shrubs and building terraces.
To celebrate his work with the St. John Ambulance Brigade, he built a special sundial at Earlscliffe. This sundial was shaped like a Maltese cross, which is the symbol of St. John Ambulance. He found "enormous pleasure" in this sundial.
You can still see this sundial today at Earlscliffe. Sir John Lumsden passed away on September 3, 1944.
Images for kids
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This image shows the coat of arms granted to Sir John Lumsden in 1926.
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