Comyns Berkeley

George Harold Arthur Comyns Berkeley (16 October 1865 – 27 January 1946) was an obstetric physician, gynaecological surgeon and medical writer. Berkeley was most notable along with William Blair-Bell and Sir William Sinclair for creating the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Berkeley was also noted for his writing collaborations with Victor Bonney, the book A Textbook of Gynaecological Surgery that is still considered a medical classic. It was as teacher that he excelled. Life Comyns Berkeley was the eldest son of G. A. Berkeley and Sarah Berkeley née Louisa. G. A. Berkeley was a wine importer and was related to the Earls of Berkley. Berkeley was educated both at Dulwich College and Marlborough College. Berkeley subsequently enrolled for matriculation at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge where he studied natural science, completing his bachelor's degree in 1887 and achieving a third-class honours in Natural Sciences Tripos Part I. In April 1894, Berkley married Ethel Berkeley née Rose. Personal life Berkley was widely known as a bit of a bon viveur by nature and inheritance, whose dinner parties were considered famous and who was involved in all the social activities of Middlesex Hospital including being prominent along with anaesthetist Herbert Charles at the annual dance. He was physically active and enjoyed hunting, shooting and golfing even though as a child he suffered polio resulting in infantile paralysis of one leg, but it never seemed to reduce his activity. Indeed, it was on a shooting trip that the idea for the formation of the RCOG was first gained life.