John Stopford, Baron Stopford of Fallowfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Stopford of Fallowfield
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| Personal details | |
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John Sebastian Bach Stopford
25 June 1888 Hindley Green, Wigan, England |
| Died | 6 March 1961 (aged 72) Westmorland, England |
| Occupation | Anatomist |
John Sebastian Bach Stopford, Baron Stopford of Fallowfield (born June 25, 1888 – died March 6, 1961) was a very important British doctor and scientist. He was known as an anatomist, which means he studied the structure of the human body. He also became a peer, which is a special title in the British Parliament.
Lord Stopford was also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester. This means he was the main leader of the university. Many people called him "one of the greatest anatomists of this century."
Contents
Early Life and School Days
John Stopford was born in Hindley Green, a town near Wigan in the United Kingdom. His father, Thomas Rinch Stopford, was an engineer who worked in coal mines. His mother was Mary Stopford.
John went to school at Liverpool College and Manchester Grammar School. In 1906, he started studying medicine at Manchester University. He worked hard and graduated in 1911 with honors, earning degrees to become a doctor and surgeon.
Starting His Medical Career
After finishing university, John Stopford worked as a surgeon at Rochdale Infirmary. Then he moved to Manchester Royal Infirmary as an Assistant Medical Officer.
In 1912, he went back to Manchester University. He became a junior teacher of Anatomy, working with a famous professor named Grafton Elliot Smith. John was promoted to a senior teacher and then became a lecturer in 1915. He also earned a special Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in 1915. He won a Gold Medal for his research on how blood flows to the brain.
During the First World War (1915-1918), John Stopford helped soldiers. He worked as a neurologist, a doctor who treats problems with the brain and nerves. He worked at military hospitals while still teaching. During this time, he started researching how nerves in the body feel things.
Leading the University
In 1919, when he was just 31 years old, John Stopford became a Professor of Anatomy at the University of Manchester. This happened because Professor Grafton Elliot Smith moved to London.
While he was a professor, he also served as the Dean of the Medical School twice. This means he was in charge of the medical training programs. He was also a Pro Vice-Chancellor for the university from 1928 to 1930.
In 1934, John Stopford became the temporary Vice-Chancellor of the university. He did such a great job that he was given the job permanently. He stayed in this important role for 22 years! He continued to be a Professor of Anatomy until 1938. After that, he focused on a special area called Environmental Neurology.
From 1947 to 1953, he was the first chairman of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board. This group helped manage hospitals in the area. He retired in 1956 and was given the title of emeritus professor, which means he was a retired professor who kept his title because of his great work.
Family Life
John Stopford met Lily Allan when they were both students at Manchester University. They got married in 1916. They had one son, Thomas Stopford, who sadly passed away in Rhos on Sea.
Becoming a Lord
In 1958, the Prime Minister suggested that John Stopford should become a Lord. This is a special honor where someone is given a title for life and can sit in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament.
He officially became "Lord Stopford of Fallowfield" on August 5, 1958. He was introduced to the House of Lords on March 10, 1959. He was a "Crossbench peer," meaning he didn't belong to a specific political party. Sadly, he became ill after retiring and never made a speech in the House of Lords before he passed away on March 6, 1961.
Other Important Roles
Lord Stopford held many other important jobs during his life, especially in healthcare. Here are some of them:
- Chairman-elect, University Grants Committee (he had to resign due to illness)
- Member, General Medical Council (this group sets standards for doctors)
- Chairman, Universities Bureau of the British Empire
- Vice-Chairman, Trustees of the Nuffield Foundation
- Vice-Chairman, Nuffield Hospital Fund
- Vice-Chairman, Interdepartmental Committee on Medical Schools
- Deputy Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals
- Vice-President & Life Member, Anatomical Society
- Member, Ministry of Health Advisory Committee
- Member, Council of the Royal College of Physicians
- Chairman, Manchester Regional Hospital Board
- Chairman, Manchester Royal College of Music
Honors and Awards
John Stopford received many honors for his amazing work.
- In 1927, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists. He was the first medical graduate from Manchester University to receive it.
- He was also made an Honorary Advisory Anatomist at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Here are some of his other awards:
- 1920: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- 1937: ScD from University of Dublin
- 1939: ScD from University of Leeds
- 1941: Became a Knight, so he was called "Sir John Stopford"
- 1942: Honorary Fellowship (FRCP) from Royal College of Physicians
- 1951: ScD from University of Cambridge
- 1951; 1957: LLD and MA from University of Manchester
- 1953: LLD from University of Liverpool
- 1955: Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
- 1955: Honorary Fellowship (FRCS) from Royal College of Surgeons
- 1956: Given the special title of Freeman of Manchester
- 1957: DCL from University of Durham
- 1958: Became a Life peer as Baron Stopford of Fallowfield
The Stopford Building
To remember Lord Stopford and his contributions, the Medical School building at the University of Manchester was named the Stopford Building in 1972. It's a very large building on Oxford Road. The library inside it is also called the Stopford Library.
