Charles Finnigan Explained
| Charles Finnigan |
| Birth Name: | Charles Joseph Finnigan |
| Birth Date: | 3 April 1901 |
| Birth Place: | Dundee |
| Death Date: | 27 July 1967 |
| Death Place: | Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, London |
| Nationality: | Scottish |
| Occupation: | dental surgeon |
| Known For: | Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen from 1955 to 1960 |
Charles Joseph Finnigan, CB (3 April 1901 – 27 July 1967) was a Scottish dental surgeon who became Surgeon Rear-Admiral (D) in the Royal Navy. He served as Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen from 1955 to 1960.
Life
Charles Finnigan was born on 3 April 1901 at Lawside House, Dundee. His father was Andrew Finnigan, a liquor salesman, and his mother was Margaret Breslin. They were married on 26 Sept 1890 at Lochee, Dundee.[1]
Charles was educated at Harris Academy, Dundee.[2] He graduated at St. Andrews University in 1923 having qualified as a dental surgeon.[3] Shortly after graduation in 1923, he joined the Royal Navy as a dental surgeon. In 1937, he married Milifred Kathleen Dudgeon in Hong Kong and they had a son John A. Finnigan who also entered the Royal Navy. He died on 27 July 1967 at the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, London, at the age of 66.[3] His photographic portrait is available at the National Portrait Gallery, London.[4]
Naval career
- Before World War Two he served as dental surgeon on the following vessels: H.M. Ships, Delhi, Norfolk, Dorsetshire and Achilles, and also on the China Station.[3]
- 1929 — Appointed Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander[3]
- 1932-33 — HMS Dorsetshire[5]
- 1933 — HMS Achilles[5]
- 1936 — Appointed Surgeon Commander[3]
- 1937-39 — RN Hospital, Hong Kong[5]
- 1939-45 — Served in the United Kingdom, Africa, Italy and Malta. Made acting Surgeon Captain while on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, and served as Fleet Dental Surgeon.[3]
- 1949 — Confirmed in the rank of Surgeon Captain and served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
- 1960 — Retired from the Royal Navy and made Companion of the Order of the Bath (C.B.)[3]
Notes and References
- Birth certificate available at General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh:http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
- His name appears as notable pupil at this school.
- His 'Obituary' in the British Dental Journal, (London: British Dental Association), Volume 123, no. 4, 5 August 1967, p.192.
- National Portrait Gallery: http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp97091/charles-joseph-finnigan (Accessed 16/05/2013)
- Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/FINNIGAN.shtml (Accessed 16/05/2013)
