Jeffery Allen Marston

Jeffery Allen Marston (31 December 1831 – 31 March 1911) CB, Hon. FRCS, was Principal Medical Officer to the Indian Army and honorary surgeon to Queen Victoria and then King Edward VII.^[1]

Jeffery Marston was born on 31 December 1831 in Martham, Norfolk.^[2][3] He studied at the University of Glasgow, at Newcastle Hospital, and in London,^[3] and graduated with an M.D. from the University of St Andrews in 1854.^[1]

Marston joined the British Army as an assistant surgeon on 10 November 1854.^[1][3] In 1863 he was the first to describe Mediterranean fever. In 1877 he drew up dietary guidelines for military prisons. He became Deputy Surgeons-General in 1882,^[4] became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1887, and became a C.B. in 1887 and F.R.C.S.Eng. in 1888.^[1]

He served as sanitary officer in the 1882 Egyptian Expedition and was at the Battle of Tell El Kebir. He received a number of awards including the third class of the Order of Osmanieh and the Khedive's Star.^[1]

He was principal medical officer to the Indian Army, President of the Army Medical Board, and delegate of the British Government to the International Medical Congress in Washington.^[1]

General Marston retired in 1889 with the rank of Surgeon General.^[5] He subsequently became honorary surgeon to Queen Victoria and then King Edward VII.^[1]

Marston died in his residence in 56 Nevern Square, London on 31 March 1911.^[1][3] His funeral took place the following Tuesday at Charlton cemetery.^[1]

• Adrian Marston