George Francis Abercrombie

George Francis Abercrombie, (25 June 1896 – 25 September 1978) was a British physician who worked as a general practitioner (GP). In 1952, he co-founded the College of General Practitioners, later granted the royal prefix and renamed the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). He became its president in 1967.

In 1950, he was elected the first president of the section of general practice of the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) and later became a fellow. He was also at this time, appointed honorary physician to King George VI.

Early life George Abercrombie was born in 1896, the son of a solicitor. He enrolled in the Royal Navy at the onset of the World War I and despite being a medical student with only three months clinical experience, he assisted in numerous destroyers over a period of 10 months. He very soon changed his mind and became a member of the steering group, which founded the RCGP. He was appointed first chairman of the provisional foundation council on 19 November 1952 and his mother, Mrs G.K. Abercrombie, gave a significant donation. He subsequently became chairman of the full foundation council and of the first three councils of the college between 1953 and 1956.