Physiologist. Born in Montrose and educated at Montrose Academy and the University of Edinburgh. In 1926, he was appointed a lecturer there under Prof. Sir Edward Sharpey-Schafer (1850 - 1935) and also became a Consultant Physician at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 1933. He joined the army medical service during World War II, rising to the rank of Brigadier and was awarded a CBE (1946).
He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1928 and served as its President (1960-63). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1963 and was knighted in 1965.