Twenty-Six Portland Place

Visiting Professor, University College London; President, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, 1993-5

Foundation of the Society. The Society established and Manson’s presidency — 1907-9. Ross’s presidency: ‘from a very tender plant to a very vigorous tree’ — 1909-11. The pre-war years (1911-14) and the Royal Society of Medicine’s attempt to absorb the STMH. The Society during the Great War (1914-18). Early inter-war years (1919-20) — the Society becomes Royal. The 1920s: consolidation of the Society, but still no permanent base, and an unfortunate episode involving the Colonial Office. George Carmichael Low’s presidency and removal to Manson House - 1929-33. The mid-1930s: the Society safely installed in its own house. The pre-World War II years. The Society during World War II (1939-45), and the future of clinical tropical medicine. The early post-war years - 1946-50. Completion of the Society’s first half-century — in 1957. Epilogue to the Society’s first half-century — 1907-57.