Robert Woods (surgeon)
Irish surgeon and politician (1865–1938)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Robert Henry Woods (27 April 1865 – 8 September 1938) was an Irish surgeon and otorhinolaryngologist and also an independent Unionist Member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom parliament.
Sir Robert Woods | |
|---|---|
Woods in 1921 | |
| Member of Parliament for Dublin University | |
| In office 1918–1922 | |
| Preceded by | |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 April 1865 County Offaly, Ireland |
| Died | 8 September 1938 (aged 73) County Dublin, Ireland |
| Party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Margaret Shaw (m. 1884) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | James Johnston Shaw (father-in-law) |
| Education | Trinity College Dublin |
Personal life
He was born at Tullamore, County Offaly, the son of Christopher Woods and Dorothea Lowe.[1] He attended Wesley College, Dublin and Trinity College Dublin as well as studying in Vienna, before graduating in medicine in 1889.[1]
In August 1894, he married Margaret Shaw, daughter of county court judge James Johnston Shaw; they had five children.[1]
He became President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland from 1910 to 1912.[1] He was professor of laryngology and otology at Trinity College.[1] He was knighted in 1913.[1]
Political career
He was MP for Dublin University from 1918 to 1922, having previously been defeated in a 1917 by-election for the same constituency.[1]
When the First Dáil convened in January 1919, he was the only unionist who formally declined the offer to attend the assembly.[1] In July 1921, he took part in the Mansion House conference which was instrumental in bringing about a truce in hostilities between republican and British forces.[1]
Woods left the House of Commons at the dissolution of 1922, when his constituency ceased to be represented in the House of Commons.[1]
Death
Woods died in Killiney, Dublin on 8 September 1938, aged 73.[1]