21 Facts About Belgrave Ninnis

Belgrave Ninnis graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of St Andrews in 1861, and the same year entered the navy as an Assistant Surgeon.

From 1864 to 1866, Ninnis served as part of a surveying expedition to the Northern Territory of South Australia, helping to chart the area to the west of the Adelaide River and returning biological specimens to Adelaide for study.

In 1867 Belgrave Ninnis was appointed to Greenwich Hospital, and in 1875 he joined the British Arctic Expedition under Captain Sir George Nares, serving as Staff-Surgeon on HMS Discovery.

When disease spread among the expedition's dogs, Belgrave Ninnis was charged with investigating the cause; his findings later formed the basis of a published work.

Belgrave Ninnis received Sir Gilbert Blane's gold medal in 1879, was promoted to Deputy Inspector-General in 1883, was appointed Principal Medical Officer at Melville Naval Hospital in 1892, and was selected as a Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of Saint John in 1895.

Belgrave Ninnis was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1912.

Belgrave Ninnis was initiated into the Freemasons 1872, was a founder of several Lodges, and in 1901 became a Past Grand Deacon of England.

In October 1862 Belgrave Ninnis was transferred to the navy's flagship HMS Victory, then moored in Portsmouth.

Belgrave Ninnis was posted aboard HMS Curacoa, assigned to the Australian Station, in 1863.

Together with W P Auld, Ninnis was the first to survey the area to the west of the river, around what is Darwin.

Belgrave Ninnis later published a report, Diseases Incidental to the Eskimo Dogs of Smith's Sound: Diagnosis and Treatment, on his findings during the expedition.

Belgrave Ninnis spent the remainder of his career working on ships and in hospitals.

Belgrave Ninnis was appointed Principal Medical Officer at Melville Naval Hospital, Chatham in 1892, and three years later was selected as a Knight of Grace to the Venerable Order of Saint John.

Belgrave Ninnis retired on 1 September 1897, with an honorary promotion to Inspector-General.

Belgrave Ninnis presented another paper at the 1908 annual meeting of the association, entitled "The Position of St John Ambulance Brigade as Regards Mobilization", in his capacity as Chief Commissioner St John Ambulance Brigade.

Belgrave Ninnis was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Society of Antiquaries, and a member of the Army and Navy Club, the Royal Navy Medical Club, and the Folklore Society.

Belgrave Ninnis was a member of the Orders of Knights Templar and the Knights of Malta.

Belgrave Ninnis was a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, a Vice President of the Royal Masonic School for Boys, and a Vice Patron of the Royal Masonic School for Girls.

Belgrave Ninnis was the fourth son of Paul Ninnis, originally of Cornwall.

Belgrave Ninnis was married to Ada Jane Sutton, with whom he had three sons and one daughter.

Ninnis was the father of Belgrave Edward Sutton Ninnis, a Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers and Antarctic explorer.