[2] He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh graduating with an MB ChB in 1941.
He then, as his service during the Second World War, joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Surgeon.
[2] Returning to the University of Edinburgh as a lecturer in 1947 after serving as a surgeon lieutenant in the RNVR during the Second World War.
In 1974 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and returned to the University of Edinburgh as Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
The building was built in 1978 as part of the general redevelopment of the Square which had been acquired by the University in the 1960s.