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

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

Database description compiled by Lesley Hall, Dec 2012; expanded to incorporate further acquistion in Oct 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.