Deputy Chancellors

Arthur Edward Mills

(1865 - 1940)

MB ChM
Fellow of Senate: 1920 - 1925, 1929-1939
Deputy Chancellor: 1936 - 1939

Arthur Edward Mills, physician and professor of medicine, was born on 13 February 1865 at Mudgee, New South Wales.

Educated at Mudgee, Dubbo and Gulgong, he became a pupil-teacher then matriculated at the University of Sydney (MB, ChM, 1889).

He was a resident at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in 1889, demonstrated in anatomy at the University in 1890, entered general practice in 1892 at Picton, was appointed assistant physician at Prince Alfred in 1898, physician in 1910 and consultant in 1930 and set up as a consultant physician in Macquarie Street in 1910.

From 1901 Mills had lectured at the University in the diseases of children. He visited the Infants' Home, Ashfield, as honorary medical officer for thirty-five years and introduced a modified Truby King feeding schedule which greatly reduced infant mortality from gastro-enteritis. In 1906 he visited medical schools in Berlin and was impressed with the importance given to teaching the physiological and biochemical principles underlying clinical medicine, and was one of the earliest to teach in this modern way in Sydney.

He became Lecturer in the principles and practice of medicine in 1910.

In 1915 he joined the Australian Imperial Force as major, served overseas at No.1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, and at administrative headquarters, London, and was recalled to the University in 1916.

From 1920 to 1930 he was Professor of the principles and practice of medicine, and dean in 1920-25. He was a Fellow of the Senate in 1920-25 and 1929-39, and Deputy Chancellor in 1936-38.

In 1926 Mills had accepted the offer of the post of chief medical officer for the Mutual Life & Citizens Assurance Co. Ltd, and was a foundation fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1938).

He died suddenly in Martin Place of coronary occlusion on 10 April 1940.

Information source: Dictionary of Australian Biography

Senate resolution adopted on 10 April 1940 on the death of Dr Mills

"The Senate of the University of Sydney records its deep sense of the loss sustained by the death of Arthur Edward Mills, M.B., Ch.M.

Dr. Mills graduated as Bachelor of Medicine in the year 1889 and was one of seven students who obtained the M.B. degree in that year. After spending twelve months as a Resident Medical Officer in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, he was appointed Demonstrator in Anatomy in 1890 and was thus the first Sydney graduate to hold a University appointment in the Faculty of Medicine. He was appointed as Examiner in Anatomy in the year 1894 and Lecturer in the Principles and Practice of Medicine in 1910. During the year 1915, he proceeded overseas and served with the A.I.F. as a Major in the Australian Army Medical Corps. He was appointed Professor of Medicine in the year 1920, in which year he became Dean of the Faculty. As Dean, he served as a Fellow of the Senate from 1920 to 1925; he was elected a Fellow by the graduates in 1929 and re-elected in 1934. He held the office of Deputy Chancellor during the years 1937, 1938 and 1939.

Throughout his long career as a medical practitioner and as a member of the University, Dr. Mills displayed qualities which brought him affectionate regard from all with whom he came in contact. He has served the University loyally and faithfully and maintained a keen interest in its advancement from the time of his early association with it. His joint benefaction with his widow was the remodelling of the present Senate room, so that his name is preserved, not only as a loyal and faithful servant of the institution, but as an honoured benefactor as well. His many students, who are now practising the profession of Medicine in every sphere of the world, will ever regard his memory with afection and reverence.

The Senate desires to record its deepest sympathy with his widow and other relatives."