Hugh Acland (surgeon)

Hugh Acland in 1940

Sir Hugh Thomas Dyke Acland CMG CBE (10 September 1874 – 15 April 1956) was a prominent New Zealand surgeon.

Early life

He was born in 1874 in Christchurch. Bishop Harper and Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 10th Baronet were his grandfathers; John Acland was his father and Jack Acland, MP for Temuka in the 1940s, was his son. Acland was one of the first in New Zealand who confined their medical practice to surgery. He joined the New Zealand Medical Corps for World War I and survived the sinking of the SS Marquette.

In 1924, Acland bought Chippenham Lodge in Browns Road, St Albans, which had previously belonged to John Evans Brown. His family lived there for the rest of his life.

Acland was knighted in the 1933 Birthday Honours. In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Local politics

Acland was elected to the North Canterbury Hospital Board in 1927 and remained a member for the following 17 years. He contested the election for Mayor of Christchurch in 1935 and was narrowly beaten by the incumbent, Labour's Dan Sullivan. The election attracted nationwide attention, as Christchurch was a Labour-stronghold and due to Acland's widespread popularity, it was regarded as a test whether Labour could potentially win the November 1935 general election (which it did). Acland was elected as a councillor to Christchurch City Council in 1936 and served until 1941.

Death and commemoration

Acland died in 1956 at Chippenham Lodge. Acland Avenue in Avonside is named for Acland. This short cul-de-sac is located in the residential red zone.

References

• Welch 2015, p. 35.
• The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33946. p. 3800. 2 June 1933. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
• Welch 2015, p. 36.