John Ewart (doctor)
John Ewart | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 May 1858 |
| Died | 5 August 1939 (aged 81) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Education | University of Edinburgh, MD, 1885 |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
| Years active | 1885–1922 |
John Ewart (14 May 1858 – 5 August 1939) was a New Zealand doctor and medical superintendent of Wellington Hospital from 1889 to 1909.
Ewart was born in Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland on 14 May 1858.[1] He attended the Annan Academy and then studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh gaining an MB and CM in 1880 and MD in 1885.[1][2] He studied surgery under Joseph Lister the British surgeon who developed antiseptic surgery.[3] Ewart worked in hospitals in England and Wales before emigrating in search of a better climate to New Zealand in 1887 on the ship Waimate.[1]
From 1887 to 1889 he was surgeon at Timaru Hospital and was then appointed medical superintendent of Wellington Hospital.[1] He held this post for 20 years though he remained honorary surgeon to the hospital from 1909 when he took up a private practice.[1] He oversaw the expansion of the hospital and was known as an able administrator who also improved the standards of aseptic treatment and expanded training for nurses.[1][3] The tuberculosis hospital, which opened in 1930 (later Ewart Hospital) was named after him.[1][3][4]
Ewart retired in 1922, and died in Wellington on 5 August 1939.[1]
Family
Ewart's family emigrated from Scotland before him in 1885.[5] Two of his brothers were doctors: David Ewart of Chichester, England and William Ewart of Wellington.[5][6] He had four sisters one of whom, Jessie Ewart, was matron of Invercargill Hospital.[5][7]
In 1889 Ewart married Grace Brandon and they had two daughters and one son, Ian Ewart, who was also a doctor.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Prebble, Ray G. "John Ewart". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ Wright-St Clair, Rex (2013). Historia nunc vivat : medical practitioners in New Zealand, 1840 to 1930 (PDF). Christchurch: Cotter Medical History Trust. p. 129. ISBN 9780473240738.
- ^ a b c "NEW T.B. HOSPITAL". Evening Post. 1 December 1930. p. 11. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ "Longer term planning: Fever (Ewart) Hospital". NDHA. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d "A noted surgeon". Evening Post. 5 August 1939. p. 11. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ "Obituary". Evening Post. 10 November 1938. p. 10. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
- ^ "Obituary". Press. 1 September 1930. p. 2. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
Further reading
- Obituary New Zealand Medical Journal 1939; 38: 425-26.