John Howard Lidgett CumpstonCMG (19 June 1880 – 9 October 1954) was a senior Australian public servant, and first Director-General of the Department of Health.
John Cumpston was born in South Yarra, Melbourne on 19 June 1880, to parents Elizabeth Cumpston (née Newman) and George William Cumpston.[1] He attended Wesley College and went on to study medicine at the University of Melbourne (1898-1902).[2] His interests were in public health and preventative medicine.
He was appointed medical officer to the central board of health in Western Australia in 1907.
In 1921, he was appointed the first Director-General of the Australian Government's Department of Health.[3] Cumpston retired in May 1945, ahead of his term expiring on 18 June that year.[4]
In 1949, he accepted a position in Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon), advising on the introduction of a new health scheme for the country.[2]
He married Gladys Maeva,[5][6] the daughter of Dr G. A. Walpole of Gormanston, Tasmania, on 2 January 1908. Among their seven children was Ina Mary, an academic historian of British imperialism, and John Stanley, diplomat, author and publisher.
^ ab"Dr. J. H. L. Cumpston accepts health post in Ceylon". The Canberra Times. 26 July 1949. p. 2.
^, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 12 March 2020, retrieved 3 April 2015
^"Officers farewell Dr. Cumpston". The Canberra Times. 4 June 1945. p. 2.
^"Science Congress Hostess". Telegraph. 12 January 1939. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
^Waterhouse, Jill, "Gladys Maeva Cumpston (1887–1975)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 31 January 2024
^, itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 3 April 2015
john, cumpston, john, howard, lidgett, cumpston, june, 1880, october, 1954, senior, australian, public, servant, first, director, general, department, health, cmgduring, british, medical, mission, lahore, india, 1944director, general, department, healthin, off. John Howard Lidgett Cumpston CMG 19 June 1880 9 October 1954 was a senior Australian public servant and first Director General of the Department of Health John CumpstonCMGDuring a British medical mission in Lahore India in 1944Director General of the Department of HealthIn office 1 March 1921 1 June 1945Personal detailsBornJohn Howard Lidgett Cumpston 1880 06 19 19 June 1880South Yarra Melbourne Victoria AustraliaDied9 October 1954 1954 10 09 aged 74 Forrest Canberra Australian Capital Territory AustraliaNationalityAustralianAlma materUniversity of MelbourneOccupationPublic servant Contents 1 Life and career 2 Awards 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editJohn Cumpston was born in South Yarra Melbourne on 19 June 1880 to parents Elizabeth Cumpston nee Newman and George William Cumpston 1 He attended Wesley College and went on to study medicine at the University of Melbourne 1898 1902 2 His interests were in public health and preventative medicine He was appointed medical officer to the central board of health in Western Australia in 1907 In 1921 he was appointed the first Director General of the Australian Government s Department of Health 3 Cumpston retired in May 1945 ahead of his term expiring on 18 June that year 4 In 1949 he accepted a position in Sri Lanka then known as Ceylon advising on the introduction of a new health scheme for the country 2 He married Gladys Maeva 5 6 the daughter of Dr G A Walpole of Gormanston Tasmania on 2 January 1908 Among their seven children was Ina Mary an academic historian of British imperialism and John Stanley diplomat author and publisher Cumpston died in Forrest Canberra on 9 October 1954 and was cremated 1 Awards editIn March 1929 Cumpston was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for services as Director General of Health and Quarantine 7 References edit a b Roe Michael Cumpston John Howard Lidgett 1880 1954 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University ISSN 1833 7538 Archived from the original on 2 February 2014 a b Dr J H L Cumpston accepts health post in Ceylon The Canberra Times 26 July 1949 p 2 CA 17 Department of Health Central Office National Archives of Australia archived from the original on 12 March 2020 retrieved 3 April 2015 Officers farewell Dr Cumpston The Canberra Times 4 June 1945 p 2 Science Congress Hostess Telegraph 12 January 1939 Retrieved 31 January 2024 Waterhouse Jill Gladys Maeva Cumpston 1887 1975 Australian Dictionary of Biography Canberra National Centre of Biography Australian National University retrieved 31 January 2024 Search Australian Honours CUMPSTON John Howard Lidgett The Order of St Michael and St George Companion itsanhonour gov au Australian Government archived from the original on 3 April 2015External links editWorks by or about John Cumpston at Internet ArchiveGovernment officesNew titleDepartment established Director General of the Department of Health1921 1945 Succeeded byFrank McCallum nbsp This Australian government biography is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Cumpston amp oldid 1205252217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
