biographies

Meyer, Felix Henry (1858 - 1937)

M.D. (Melb.)

Born
19 June 1858
St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Died
1937
Occupation
Gynaecologist, Medical practitioner and Obstetrician

Details

Transcription of item written by Dr Colin Macdonald and published in "The Book of Remembrance", The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, 1956.


FELIX HENRY MEYER
(1888 - 1918)

Felix Henry Meyer was a member of the Honorary staff of the Women’s Hospital for 30 years - a man of great learning, and of many interests, both inside and outside the profession of medicine. He had charm, and ready wit, was an excellent public speaker and conversationalist, a first class scholar and exponent of the classics, musician, historian and prolific writer both for professional and lay journals, being a frequent contributor to the literary columns of "The Argus", then one of the world’s leading newspapers.

Born at St. Kilda, Victoria, on 19th June 1858, the son of Mark Meyer and Rebecca Fink, an intensely active and widely varied life ended in 1937, in his 79th year. Few professional activities, teaching or organizational, failed to excite his interest, wide sympathy and untiring zest. In 1881 - a year after graduating - he was sole R.M.O. at the Lying-In Hospital, remaining there until 1885; in that post he watched keenly the interests of students, residents and nurses. During his course he founded (with T.R.H. Willis) the Medical Students Society. In one year alone, 1885, he established courses in the hospital for training nurses, founded the Victorian Nurses Association, and initiated much appreciated classes for medical students. In that year, too, he commenced practice in Carlton. Two years later he was elected Honorary obstetrical surgeon, and from 1891 to 1918 was Honorary gynaecological surgeon. He was 14 years in Carlton before removing to Collins Street,

A digest of Meyer’s interests and achievements, extracted from the Medical Directory for Australia 1936-37, shows the catholicity of his activity and wide range of his sympathy:

Meyer, Felix Henry: M.D., Melb. 1902, (M.B. 1880, Ch.B.1881 F.R.A.C.S.: formerly Resident Med. Supt. Women’s Hosp. 1881-1885, Hon. Obstetrical Surgeon 1887-91, Hon. Gynaecological Surgeon 1891-1918; now Hon. Consulting Gynaecologist: Lecturer on Obstetrics and Diseases of women, Univ. Melb. 1914-18; member Board of Examiners for State Midwifery Certificate; Member B.M.A., President Vic. Branch 1894, member Historical Section Vic. Branch; Jackson History Lecturer, Brisbane, 1932; member Medico-legal Socy., Melb.; a Founder R.A.C.S.; member Faculty of Music Univ. Melb.; member Orchestra Advisory Committee; member Lady Northcote Permanent Orchestra Trust Fund; member Univ. Advisory Musical Trust; Major A.A.M.C., retired; publications, Presidential Addresses and other papers on obstetrical and gynaecological subjects to medical journals.

Among his general publications were History of Wesley College, edited in 1919, and "Adamson of Wesley", 1933, Wesley being one of several schools he attended. He was Dux in 1873 and in 1897-8 President of the Wesley Old Collegians. At the Matriculation Examination of 1875 he won the Exhibitions in Classics, French, English, History and Geography - a remarkable performance.

Meyer was a most successful club man. Coteries which knew and enjoyed his personality and wit were that famous walking club, the Wallaby; the convivial Yorick, and the literary Boobooks and Beefsteak. His wife was Mary Nanson, second daughter of Professor E.J. Nanson who held Chair of Mathematics at the University of Melbourne for 47 years.

Felix Meyer who left no family, was one of the most scholarly men in the history of the Australian Medical profession, and possessed an unexcelled elegance in both the written and the spoken word.

Archival/Heritage Resources

Royal Women's Hospital Archives

  • Book of Remembrance, 1956 - 1975; Royal Women's Hospital Archives [ Details... ].

Images

Title
Meyer, Felix
Type
Image
Details

Prepared by: Robyn Waymouth

Created: 31 July 2006, Last modified: 26 November 2006