Vice-Chancellors

Cecil Purser

(1862 - 1953)

BA MB Syd, ChM
Fellow of Senate, 1909 - 1939
Vice-Chancellor, 1917 - 1918, 1923
Deputy Chancellor, 1924 - 1925

Cecil Purser was born on 16 December 1862 at Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia.

Educated at the University of Sydney (BA 1885, MB, ChM 1890), he was a resident medical officer at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in 1890, medical superintendent from 1891 to 1892, in private practice at Petersham from 1893, honorary staff, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from 1896, and consultant physician from 1912 to 1953. He practised in Macquarie Street from 1912, was director of the hospital board from 1909 to 1933, vice-chairman from 1920 to 1923 and chairman from 1924 to 1933.

His interest was in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

He was a Fellow of Senate of the University of Sydney from 1909, elected Vice-Chancellor from 1917 to 1918 and 1923, and the first Deputy Chancellor from 1924 to 1925.

Other career highlights included:

• Director (chairman from 1915), Carrington Centennial Hospital for Convalescents, Camden
• Foundation member, Queen Victoria Homes for Consumptives
• Honorary consultant to the Home for Consumptives, Waterfall
• Medical examiner, R.T. Hall Sanatorium, Hazelbrook
• Tuberculosis Advisory Board from 1912
• Life governor, Women's Hospital, Crown Street
• Honorary major, Australian Army Medical Corps Reserve from 1916
• Foundation fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians 1938

Information from "Bricht sparcs", published by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre