DEATH OF SIR HENRY THOMPSON

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1678, 27 April 1904, Page 75 (Supplement)

DEATH OF SIR HENRY THOMPSON

LONDON, "April 19. . Tho d.eath is announced of Sir Henry Thompson, surgeon. Sir Henry Thompson was a man of many parts—an eminent surgeon, a. prolific author (his many works, including even novels), a painter of more than ordinary merit, and an astronomer. Born in Suffolk in 1820, lie was educated at the University College, London, and was appointed asuistan i surgeon of University College Hospital in 1853, surgeon in 1863, Professor Clinical Surgery in 1866 and consulting surgeon . in 1874, subsequently receiving many high honours in tho medical world. In 1863 Dr Thompson was appointed Surgeon Extraordinary to the late King of the Belgians, and continued to hold that office under King Leopold. IJe was knighted in 1867. In 1874, Sir Henry, in the “ Contemporary Review,” drew public attention to the subject of cremation, and followed this later with other writings on the same subject. ( He had been president cf the Cremation Society of England since it.s formation in 1874. Ho studied painting under Elmore and Tadenla and exhibited pictures at the Royal Academy, the Salon of Paris and elsewhere. In his writings on the inefficient methods of certifying to the cause of death, Sir Henry was instrumental in getting the Government of the day to appoint a Select Committee of-Inquiry on “Death Certification.” The result was a report completely justifying the allegations made.