Adolphe Abrahams

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Sir

Adolphe Abrahams

Born(1883-02-06)6 February 1883
Died11 December 1967(1967-12-11) (aged 84)
NationalityBritish
EducationBedford School
Bedford Modern School
Alma materEmmanuel College, Cambridge
OccupationPhysician
SpouseAdrienne Walsh
Children2
Awards
  • Officer of the Order of the British Empire
  • Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London
  • Knight Bachelor

Sir Adolphe Abrahams OBE FRCP (6 February 1883 – 11 December 1967) was a British medical doctor, and he is considered to be the founder of British sports science.[1][2]

Career[edit]

Abrahams was born in Cape Town on 6 February 1883, as the son of Isaac and Esther Abrahams.[1] He was educated at Bedford Modern School between 1891 and 1899,[1][3][4][5] at Bedford School, and at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.[1][6][4][7]

Abrahams is considered the founder of British sports science.[2] He was the medical officer in charge of the British Olympic teams from 1912 until 1948.[1] He was also the President of the British Association of Sports and Medicine, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.[8]

Abrahams was knighted in 1939.[1]

Family life[edit]

Abrahams married Adrienne Walsh in 1922; they had a son and a daughter.[1] He was the elder brother of the athletes Harold Abrahams CBE and Sir Sidney Abrahams KC. He died on 11 December 1967.[1]

In the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, about his brother Harold Abrahams played by Ben Cross, Harold shows his friend a picture of his brother, a doctor, who was Adolphe Abrahams.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Munks Roll Details for Adolphe (Sir) Abrahams". rcplondon.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b Simon P. R. Jenkins (2005). Sports Science Handbook: I-Z. multi-science publishing. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-906522-37-0.
  3. ^ "Abrahams, Sir Adolphe, (6 Feb. 1883–11 Dec. 1967), Hon. Medical Adviser, International Athletic Board, and Hon. Medical Officer, British Olympic Athletic Team; President, Brit. Assoc. Sport and Medicine, and United Hosps Athletic Club". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U52767. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1.
  4. ^ a b Underwood, Andrew (1981). Bedford Modern School of the black & red. Bedford Modern School. ISBN 9780950760803. OCLC 16558393.
  5. ^ "Photograph of Old Bedford Modernian XIX Century Luncheon". nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. ^ "The Harpur Trust 1552-1973", by Joyce Godber 1973
  7. ^ "Who's Who". ukwhoswho.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Sir Adolphe Abrahams, Prominent British Jewish Physician, Dead at 84". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 14 December 1967. Retrieved 1 June 2015.