John Butterfield, Baron Butterfield

William John Hughes Butterfield, Baron Butterfield, OBE, FRCP (28 March 1920 – 22 July 2000) was a leading British medical researcher, clinician and administrator.

The Right Honourable The Lord Butterfield OBE FRCP
John Butterfield in 1982
Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge
In office 1983–1985
Preceded by	Harry Hinsley
Master, Downing College, Cambridge
In office 1976–1983
Personal details
Born	28 March 1920
Died	22 July 2000 (aged 80)
Alma mater	University of Oxford Johns Hopkins University
Occupation	Administrator
Profession	Academic, Clinician, Medical researcher

Early life and education

Butterfield was educated at Solihull School, an historic independent school in the West Midlands. Whilst at Solihull he was Head Boy, Head of CCF and captain of rugby, cricket, hockey and athletics. He continued his sporting passions while studying at Oxford, becoming a triple blue. He then benefited from a two-year Rockefeller Foundation Scholar grant to study at Johns Hopkins University, where he gained a further medical degree.

Career

After his degree, national military service awaited him. He spent it as an officer in the Army Physiological Unit and Deputy Director for Scientific Research. He subsequently returned to the United States, to a fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia at Richmond.

Over the years he was appointed to many commissions in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Among his professional research interests was diabetes mellitus. His appointments included one as Professor of Experimental Medicine at Guy's Hospital. In 1970 he was invited to accept the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham.

In 1976 he was appointed Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge where he led the re-establishment of the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge.[1] In 1978 on the death of Sir Morien Morgan he was elected Master of Downing College, Cambridge, where he was a popular figure. Even after retirement from the post, his links with his adopted College persisted and he did what he could to further its interests. The College bar at Downing is named after him. The Mastership of Downing led to a term also as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

Honours

Butterfield was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1953.[2] In 1978, he was knighted.[3] He was made a life peer in 1988 as Baron Butterfield, of Stechford in the County of West Midlands.[4]

Coat of arms of John Butterfield, Baron Butterfield

Crest A cubit arm vested Azure semy of pentacles Or the hand Proper holding a pair of keys fesswise the bows interlaced Gold. Escutcheon Azure a pale Ermine per fesse counterchanged on a fesse Gules between three lozenges Or a lion passant in trian aspect also Or and between on the dexter a domed tower Proper ensigned by an increscent Argent on the sinister a like tower ensigned by an estoile Gold. Supporters Dexter, a greyhound statant erect gorged with an open crown Or; Sinister, a griffin also statant erect Gold. Motto Perseverantia [5]

Footnotes

1. "Lord Butterfield", Daily Telegraph
2. "No. 39863". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 May 1953. p. 2957.
3. "No. 47418". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1977. p. 1.
4. "No. 51440". The London Gazette. 15 August 1988. p. 9225.
5. Debrett's Peerage. 2000.

References

• Payne, M.A., 'Presentation of Honorary Fellowship to Professor Sir John Butterfield', in Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine vol. 53, n. 10 (December 1987) 907-908
• Mahler, R. (January 2008) [2004]. "Butterfield, (William) John Hughes, Baron Butterfield (1920–2000)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/74360. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
• BUTTERFIELD, Baron, Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012
• "Lord Butterfield (obituary)". The Daily Telegraph. London. 26 July 2000.