Sir Wilfred (Thomason) Grenfell - Medical education and mission work, International Grenfell Association, Historical Society, Literary inspiration, Awards

Physician and missionary, born in Parkgate, Cheshire, NWC England, UK. He studied at London University, became a surgeon on a hospital ship serving the North Sea fisheries, and was a member of the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. In 1892 he went to Labrador and founded hospitals, orphanages, and other social services, as well as fitting out hospital ships for the fishing grounds. He was knighted in 1927.

Medical education and mission work

Wilfred Grenfell moved to London in 1882.

The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen sent Dr. Grenfell to Newfoundland in 1892 to develop a medical mission.

International Grenfell Association

By 1914 the mission had gained international status. In order to manage its property and affaris the International Grenfell Association, a non-profit mission society, was founded to support the work of Dr. Grenfell. The International Grenfell Association, having divested itself of all properties and operational responsibility for health and social services, then became a supporting association making grants and funding scholarships for medical training.

Historical Society

The Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell Historical Society was formed in 1978.

Literary inspiration

A unique figure, Grenfell served to inspire at least two characters in Canadian literature: Dr Luke in Norman Duncan's Doctor Luke of the Labrador (1904) and Dr Tocsin in White Eskimo by Harold Horwood (1972).

Awards

Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George - 1907 Honorary Doctorate of Medicine, Oxford University – 1907 (First ever granted) Murchison Prize, Royal Geographical Society - 1911 (awarded the for his charts of Labrador) Knighthood - 1927 (recognition of medical, educational and social work) Honorary Knight for Life, Loyal Knights of the Round Table, Fifth Rank - 1928 (for great service to humanity) Induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame - 1997

In 1979, the Corner Brook campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland was renamed Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in his honour.