11 Facts About Rocke Robertson

Rocke Robertson was born in Victoria, British Columbia in 1912.

Rocke Robertson married Beatrice "Rolly" Rosalyn Arnold in 1937, and the couple would go on to have four children: Tam, Ian, Bea and Stuart.

Rocke Robertson served in World War II, first in England, where he commanded surgical units in the field, and then as part of the Allied invasion of Sicily, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Rocke Robertson returned to British Columbia when he was put in charge of surgery at the Vancouver Military Hospital and Shaughnessy Veteran's Hospital in 1944.

In 1959, Rocke Robertson became Surgeon-in-Chief at Montreal General Hospital, where he oversaw the creation of the University Surgical Clinic, developed a Surgical Intensive Care Unit and was named Chairman of Surgery.

Rocke Robertson invented the trauma team while working at the hospital, and remained there until being appointed Principal of McGill in 1962.

Rocke Robertson was the first physician and the first McGill University graduate to serve as its Principal and Vice Chancellor.

Rocke Robertson received honorary degrees from many universities: Bishop's University, University of Manitoba, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Glasgow, University of British Columbia, Universite de Montreal, University of Michigan, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Memorial University and Sir George Williams University, which later became Concordia University.

Rocke Robertson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1968 and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1969.

Rocke Robertson was a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons.

Rocke Robertson's archive is held at the McGill University Archives.