- Marcus Fernando
-
Sir Hilarian Marcus Fernando Born 1864 Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Died 1936 Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Nationality 
Sri LankanEducation University of Colombo
Royal College Colombo St Benedicts AcademyOccupation Physician, Public Servant, Businessman, Politician Title Knight Batchelor Sir Hilarian Marcus Fernando, (1864–1936) was a pre-independence Ceylonese statesmen, physician and banker. He was a member of both the Executive Council and Legislative Council as well as the Chairman of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon.
Contents
Education
He was educated at St Benedicts Academy [1] (later known as St Benedict's College Colombo) and the Colombo Academy later renamed Royal College Colombo. At Royal he won the Turnour Prize,Junior Cambridge Scholarship, and Mathematical Prize. He received a Ceylon Government Scholarship and Scholarship from the Gilchrist Educational Trust, enabling him to study medicine at University College London. He graduated BSc MBChB winning Atchinson Scolarship and University of London Gold Medals in Physiology, Medicine and Forensic Medicine. He graduated with M.B.in 1888, M.D. in 1889 and in 1890 was elected a Fellow of University College.[2]
Medical career
On his return to Ceylon he served as Registrar of the Ceylon Medical College and was appointed the first Consultant Physician to be appointed to the General Hospital Colombo. He contributed to scientific discussions on a wide range of diseases and is associated with a discussion on Diabetes in the Tropics, where he is credited with the observation that it was more common among the affluent Ceylonese.[3].He was a member of the Ceylon Branch of the British Medical Association, and was Secretary from 1891-1897 and President in the years 1905 and 1914.He was the director of the Bacteriological institute in Colombo and Chemical Examiner to the Government of Ceylon [4].
Political career
At the age of 43 he resigned from the medical service to take up a career in business and politics. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon. He contested unsuccessfully for a seat in the legislative assembly losing to Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan,[5][6] but subsequently served on both Executive and Legislative Councils. He was created a Knight Batchelor in 1923 (New Year Honours List).
Legacy
The Sri Lanka Medical Association commemorates his life through an endowed oration.,.[7][8] Orators include Surendra Ramachandran, Nimal Senanayake and Hithanadura Janaka De Silva. A hall of residence in the University of Peradeniya and a road in Colombo 7 are named Marcus Fernando in his honour.
References
- ^ Twentieth century impressions of Ceylon: its history, people, commerce ... By Arnold Wright page 549. books.google.co.uk. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eUF_rS8FEoIC&pg=PA549&lpg=PA549&dq=Hilarian+Marcus&source=bl&ots=IidIhRbYne&sig=ZIj-zpEwDQhfnRRg46YDDxZjt3Y&hl=en&ei=NkhiTtPNDIHF8QPPof2dCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ^ "Sir H Marcus Fernand0 MD". www.bmj.com. http://www.bmj.com/content/1/3914/91.2.full.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ^ Bose RKC. Diabetes in the tropics. BMJ 1907; ii: 1053-56.
- ^ "Sir Marcus Fernando – Knight in medical armour SLMA News September 2010 Volume 3 no 9". www.slma.lk. http://www.slma.lk/static/viewnl.php?Details=13. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ^ "Colombo Changes". rajivawijesinha.wordpress.com. http://rajivawijesinha.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/colombo-changes-9/. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ^ "SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY Beginning of British Rule By K T Rajasingham". www.atimes.com. http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/CH18Df04.html. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ^ Rosenheim ML. The first Sir Marcus Fernando Memorial oration. Ceylon Med J. 1970 Mar;15(1):3-9.
- ^ "Sir Marcus Fernand Oration". www.slma.lk. http://www.slma.lk/smf.html. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
Categories:- Sri Lankan physicians
- Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians
- Old Royalists
- 1864 births
- 1936 deaths
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