Francis Henry Champneys

Who was Francis Henry Champneys?

Francis Henry Champneys, Kt, MA, MD, FRCP was an eminent obstetrician.

He was born on 25 March 1848 in Whitechapel and educated at Winchester and Brasenose College, Oxford. After this he was a medical student at St Bartholomew's Hospital, and qualified in 1888. He was a fellow of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society and was elected its president in 1912. He particularly championed raising the status of midwives; and was Chairman of the Cen­tral Mid­wives’ Board from 1903 until 1930. He was crown nominee from 1911 to 1926 of the General Medical Council.

Champneys was created a baronet in 1910. He died on 30 July 1930 and was succeeded by his son, Weldon Dalrymple-Champneys. His father was Dean of Lichfield from 1868 to 1875; and amongst his six siblings were the architect and author Basil Champneys and the rowing clergyman Weldon Champneys.