Henry Gidney

Who was Henry Gidney?

Sir Henry Albert John Gidney was a leader of the Anglo-Indian community of the British Raj for 20 years. He received his education in Bangalore, Kolkata, and Allahabad. At 16, he joined the Calcutta Medical College at the University of Calcutta, graduating as a first class gold medal winner. At 36 years old, he was already an FRCS, DPH, MRCP, D.O., a research scholar and a lecturer in ophthalmology at Oxford, and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He joined the British Indian Army, saw action in China during the Boxer rebellion, and was recognized for his bravery in 1901.

By the time the First World War broke out, he had risen to the level of lieutenant colonel. After his retirement from the Army, he set up his own private eye hospital in Bombay.

The Gidney House of The Frank Anthony Public School, Bangalore is named after Sir Henry Gidney.