P000336 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human McCarthy, G.J. and Helen Cohn updated 2026-02-26 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000336b.htm person Cumpston John Howard Lidgett CMG AACR2 19 June 1880 9 October 1954 Place of Birth South Yarra, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Forrest, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Epidemiologist Health administrator Science historian John Cumpston qualified in medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1902 and devoted his career to preventive and public health. Initially joining the Western Australian Central Board of Health, he was chief quarantine officer for the Commonwealth Government in several states to 1921. During this time Australia had notable success in preventing the introduction of disease by returning servicemen, and in managing the influenza pandemic. In 1921 Cumpston became Director-General of the Department of Health and Director of Quarantine, a position he held until 1945. The Department moved to Canberra in 1928, and, with reduction in funding, became for several years less dynamic in its activities. Cumpston continued to promote health rather than the treatment of illness. From 1914 he published a series of pioneering and well-researched books on the history of epidemic diseases in Australia, including smallpox, scarlet fever, the plague and whooping cough. In retirement he turned his attention to Australian explorers, notably Charles Sturt, Augustus Gregory and Thomas Mitchell. 1902 1902 Education - Qualified in medicine, University of Melbourne 1906 1906 Education - Diploma in Public Health, London 1907 1907 Education - Doctor of Medicine (MD), University of Melbourne 1907 1911 Career position - Medical Officer, Central Board of Health, Western Australia 1910 1911 Career position - General quarantine officer in Western Australia, Commonwealth Government 1911 1912 Career position - Chief Quarantine Officer in Victoria, Commonwealth Government 1912 1913 Career position - Supervising Quarantine Officer in Queensland, Commonwealth Government 1921 1945 Career position - Director General, Department of Health, Commonwealth of Australia 1926 1926 Career event - Elected Member (Pathology), Australian National Research Council 1927 1937 Career position - Chairman, Federal Health Council 1928 1928 Career position - President, Section I (Medical Science and National Health), Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science Mar 1929 Mar 1929 Award - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) - Director-General of Health & Quarantine 1937 1937 Career event - Fellow, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) Department of Health, Commonwealth of Australia (1921 - 1987)

Director General 1921 -1945

 Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science (1888 - 1930)

President, Section I (Medical Science and National Health) 1928

 Australian National Research Council (ANRC) (1919 - 1955)

Member (Pathology) 1926 -

 Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) (1930 - )

Fellow 1937 -

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Cumpston, J H L (1880-1954)

Trove

 'Cumpston, John Howard Lidgett', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Cumpston, John Howard Lidgett Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: John Howard Lidgett Cumpston, 1880-1954: a Biography Spencer, Margaret John Howard Lidgett Cumpston, 1880-1954: a Biography Tenterfield the author 1987 Journal Article: A Question of Identity: J.H.L. Cumpston and Spanish Influenza, 1918-1919 Hyslop, Anthea A Question of Identity: J.H.L. Cumpston and Spanish Influenza, 1918-1919 1997-1998 Australian Cultural History 16 77-95 Book: The history of diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles and whooping cough in Australia (1788-1925) Cumpston, J. H. L. The history of diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles and whooping cough in Australia (1788-1925) Melbourne Department of Health 1927 Book: Augustus Gregory and the inland sea Cumpston, H. J. L. Augustus Gregory and the inland sea Canberra Roebuck Society 1972 Book: The history of plague in Australia, 1900-1925 Cumpston, J. H. L.; and McCallum, F. The history of plague in Australia, 1900-1925 Melbourne Department of Health 1926 Book: The inland sea and the great river : the story of Australian exploration Cumpston, J. H. L. The inland sea and the great river : the story of Australian exploration Sydney Angus & Robertson 1964 Book: The health of the people: a study in federalism Cumpston, J. H. L. The health of the people: a study in federalism Canberra Roebuck Society 1978 Journal Article: The history of medical journalism in Australia Cumpston, J. H. L. The history of medical journalism in Australia 1939 Medical Journal of Australia 1939 2 1-5 Book: The history of smallpox in Australia (1909-1923) Cumpston, J. H. L.; and MacCallum, F. The history of smallpox in Australia (1909-1923) Melbourne Department of Health 1925 Book: Influenza and maritime quarantine in Australia Cumpston, J. H. L. Influenza and maritime quarantine in Australia Melbourne Government Printer 1919 Book: Thomas Mitchell: Surveyor General and Explorer Cumpston, J. H. L. Thomas Mitchell: Surveyor General and Explorer Melbourne Oxford University Press 1954 Book: Charles Sturt: His Life and Journeys of Exploration Cumpston, J. H. L. Charles Sturt: His Life and Journeys of Exploration Melbourne Georgian House 1951 Book: The history of smallpox in Australia (1788-1908) Cumpston, J. H. L. The history of smallpox in Australia (1788-1908) Melbourne Government Printer 1914 Book: A history of the intestinal infections (and thyphus fever) in Australia 1788-1923 Cumpston, J. H. L.; and McCallum, F. A history of the intestinal infections (and thyphus fever) in Australia 1788-1923 Melbourne Department of Health 1927 Journal Article: Presidential address at the Australasian Medical Congress in Brisbane Cumpston, J. H. L. Presidential address at the Australasian Medical Congress in Brisbane 1920 Medical journal of Australia 2(10) 218-23 Book Section: The Cumpston years in Western Australia Winterton, Peter M. The Cumpston years in Western Australia Hobart University of Tasmania and the Australian Society of the History of Medicine 1994 "Outpost medicine": Australasian studies on the history of medicine: Third National Conference of the Australian Society of the History of Medicine, Hobart, February 1993 Atkins, Susanne, Kirkby, Kenneth, Thomson, Philip and Pearn, John 131-40 Journal Article: The establishment of the Australian Department of Health Roe, Michael The establishment of the Australian Department of Health 1976 Historical studies 17 76 176-92 Journal Article: "Immunisation is as Popular as a Death Adder": the Bundaberg Tragedy and the Political Deployment of Medical Science in Interwar Australia Hobbins, Peter G. "Immunisation is as Popular as a Death Adder": the Bundaberg Tragedy and the Political Deployment of Medical Science in Interwar Australia 2011 Social History of Medicine 24 2 426-44 Journal Article: John Howard Lidgett Cumpston Anon John Howard Lidgett Cumpston 1955 Medical Journal of Australia 1955 1 191-3 Resource: Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Online Melbourne Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre 2000 Journal Article: Malariology in Australia between the first and second world wars (part 2 of "Pioneers of Australian military malariology") Howie-Willis, Ian Malariology in Australia between the first and second world wars (part 2 of "Pioneers of Australian military malariology") 2016 Journal of Military and Veterans' Health 24 2 28-39 Book: The Origins of CSIRO: Science and the Commonwealth Government, 1901-1926 Currie, George; Graham, John The Origins of CSIRO: Science and the Commonwealth Government, 1901-1926 Melbourne CSIRO 1966 Book: Malaria: the Australian Experience, 1843-1991 Spencer, Margaret Malaria: the Australian Experience, 1843-1991 Townsville Australian College of Tropical Medicine 1994 Book: A vision for Australia's health: Dr Cecil Cook at work Leithhead, Barry A vision for Australia's health: Dr Cecil Cook at work Melbourne Australian Scholarly Publishing 2019 Edited Book: History of Microbiology in Australia Fenner, Frank History of Microbiology in Australia Melbourne Australian Society for Microbiology 1990 Book Section: Elkington, John Simeon Colebrook (1871-1955), advocate of public health Roe, Michael Elkington, John Simeon Colebrook (1871-1955), advocate of public health Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1981 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 8: 1891 - 1939 Cl-Gib Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 425-426 Journal Article: John Stewart Turner 1908-1991 Ashton, D. H.; Ducker, S. C. John Stewart Turner 1908-1991 1993 Historical Records of Australian Science 9 3 278-290 John Howard Lidgett Cumpston - Records Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales John Howard Lidgett Cumpston - Records ML MSS 3000 1906 - 1953 A biography of Cumpston and other family records in the Amy Cumpston collection 1906-53. 3 cartons John Howard Lidgett Cumpston - Records National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection John Howard Lidgett Cumpston - Records MS 613 1852 - 1981 Includes: manuscripts and material concerning Cumpston's publications; journal articles, correspondence, diaries, newspaper cuttings, reports, addresses, lectures, maps, certificates; material relating to the Cumpston family. Much of the material concerns health issues and information collected during Cumpston's time as Director-General of the Commonwealth Department of Health. Also includes a copy of "Memoirs of a British Agent" by R. H. Bruce Lockhart (1933) with inserts of Cumpston's comments of Lockhart's text and correspondence from Frank Anstey discussing Lockhart's career and memoirs. 2.16 m, 14 boxes and 3 folios John Howard Lidgett Cumpston - Records Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales John Howard Lidgett Cumpston - Records B1536 1850 - 1945 Typescript copy of 'The Health of the People: a study in federalism' dealing with the period 1850-1945. 297 297 pages John Howard Lidgett Cumpston - Records National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection John Howard Lidgett Cumpston - Records MS 434 1914 - 1929 Two typescript volumes of an unpublished work entitles "Health and disease in Australia" and a complete photocopy of this work. A reprint of an oration given by Cumpston entitles "The culture of human life" (2 copies). Publication and correspondence concerning Statues of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, 1929. Maps and photographs. Bound volume of Cumpston's work "The history of small-pox in Australia 1977-1908", published in 1914. Enclosed are two letters addressed to Cumpston. 0.3 m Artwork