Bertrand Edward Dawson, Viscount Dawson of Penn (1864-1945)

This small group of papers (part of a larger group of lots of Dawson's papers sold at auction in September 2012) represents a number of Dawson's interests, as well as reflecting some of his professional activities. They were described in the catalogue as: papers and letters on contraception, sexual relationships, population, etc.: typed and manuscript; and papers and letters on physical fitness, physical training, Scouting, etc, but in fact included some items relating to other aspects of Dawson's activities. A certain amount of rearrangement has taken place. The additional material acquired in October 2013 consists of a little correspondence (family and professional), a small amount of material shedding light on Dawson's position as a Royal Physician, a file on his visit to Germany with Lloyd George and others in 1936, during which they met Hitler, and a number of notebooks containing drafts, notes and jottings on a wide range of matters with which Dawson was concerned

1886-1945

3 boxes

A. Professional societies and honours
B. Campaigns
C. Correspondence
D. Royal Physician
E. Foreign Affairs
F. Notebooks

Purchased from Lawrence's Auctioneers Ltd, September 2012; additonal material purchased from Mayfly Ephemera and Books, October 2013

Entry in Munk's Roll for Lord Dawson. He had a long and distinguished career, becoming President of the Royal College of Physicans, 1931-1938, and serving as Royal Physician for four monarchs, from Edward VII to George VI. He was in many facets of his activity a moderniser and progressive, in particular in his enthusiasm for developments such as birth control. He is however probably now best remembered for his euthanasia of the dying George V in order to ensure that the announcement of death would appear in the morning edition of The Times.