Benjamin Thomas Edye

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Sir Benjamin Thomas Edye. Image courtesy of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Museum and Archives, Copyright University of Sydney.



Benjamin Thomas Edye was born in Orange in July 1884 to Andrew and Harriet Edye. Andrew was an alderman, later mayor, with Orange Municipal Council and the proprietor of the Royal Hotel.

Benjamin attended Orange Public School and then the University of Sydney where he studied pharmacy and medicine. He graduated with first-class honours and the university medal in 1910, and Master of Surgery in 1913. Dr Edye continued his studies in England, becoming a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1915. Dr Edye served during WWI, and returned to Australia in 1918 to continue his work in pathology.

From 1920 to 1927 Dr Edye was honorary assistant surgeon at Royal Prince Alfred and St Vincent’s hospitals. In 1928 he became acting professor of surgery at Sydney University, and in 1931, surgical consultant at the St George, Manly and Ryde hospitals. He was president of the New South Wales branch of the British Medical Association in 1935 and 1939.

In 1943 Dr Edye performed the first elective cardiac surgery in Australia when he successfully operated on a six year old girl suffering from a patent ductus arteriosus.

In 1957 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and in 1958 was knighted (KBE) for his services to medicine.

Sir Edye was a gifted and talented surgeon who continued to work despite increasing ill-health. He died on 12 October 1962 in the Scottish Hospital in Paddington in Sydney, aged 78.

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