William Taylor (ophthalmologist)
William Oswald Gibson Taylor FRCPGLAS (16 March 1912 – 4 September 1989) was a Scottish consultant ophthalmologist who became a leading expert on albinism.[1][2] In 1979 he founded the Albinism Fellowship in the United Kingdom.[3][4]
Education and early career[]
William Taylor graduated from the University of Glasgow, (MB, ChB) in 1934.[2] Following graduation, Taylor decided to specialise in ophthalmology, working at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary.[2] His research interests began in 1938 at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.[2] In 1940 he joined the British Army and served as an ophthalmologist in East Africa and Scotland during World War II.[2] In 1945 he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.[2]
In February 1946 he was the unsuccessful Scottish National Party candidate at the 1946 Glasgow Cathcart by-election to become Member of Parliament for the Glasgow Cathcart (UK Parliament constituency).[2] Later that year he was appointed as consultant ophthalmologist at Kilmarnock Infirmary in Ayrshire.[2]
Albinism[]
Over thirty years Taylor developed the orthoptic department into a 36-bed unit with three consultants and research facilities.[2] He published numerous scientific papers on various subjects, notably epicanthus, colour vision and albinism.[2] Through his research on colour vision, Taylor developed a specific interest in albinism.[1] He became one of the world's leading experts on the subject; continuing his research until his death aged 77.[1][5]
In 1979 he established the Albinism Fellowship to provide information, advice and support for people with albinism, their families and other interested parties.[3] He travelled the world as the international organiser of the Albinism Fellowship.[1]
Awards[]
- Mary Harkness prize in 1963.[2]
- William Mackenzie Medal in 1977.[2]
- Edridge Green prize in 1978 from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.[2]
References[]
- ^ a b c d "Death of world expert on albinos". The Herald (Glasgow). 8 September 1989. p. 8. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Obituary - William Taylor". British Medical Journal: 1519–1520. 16 December 1989. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Why white is all right". The Independent. 11 May 1995. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Hill, Adrian R. (1990). "William Taylor and the Albino Fellowship". Ophthalmic Paediatrics and Genetics. 11 (3): 155–157. doi:10.3109/13816819009020973. PMID 2280972.
- ^ William Taylor publications indexed by Microsoft Academic
External links[]
- 1912 births
- 1989 deaths
- People educated at Strathallan School
- Alumni of the University of Glasgow
- British ophthalmologists
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- 20th-century Scottish medical doctors
- Scottish National Party politicians
- Albinism
- 20th-century surgeons