Horace Evans, 1st Baron Evans

Horace Evans, 1st Baron Evans, (1 January 1903 – 26 October 1963), was a Welsh general physician known for serving the British royal family.

The son of musician Harry Evans, Evans left his studies in music at age 18 years to pursue a career in medicine. With Sir Arthur Ellis of the London Hospital Medical College, he worked on Bright's disease and on the relationship between nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) and hypertension (high blood pressure). Evans was the personal physician to King George VI and conferred with Sir Clement Price Thomas during the king's illness and famous lung surgery in 1951.

According to historian Peter Hennessy, Evans was "probably the leading general physician of his generation". However, in 1953, he referred foreign minister Anthony Eden for an operation, from which Eden's health never fully recovered, an operation which has been the subject of much discussion.

One of his daughters died in an accident at a young age and both Evans and his wife died in 1963, leaving the barony extinct.

Early life and education Evans was born and grew up in Dowlais near Merthyr Tydfil, the son of the prominent musician Harry Evans and Edith Gwendolen (née Rees). He received his early education at Liverpool College. His younger brother, Hubert, became a diplomat, ambassador to Nicaragua between 1952 and 1954. His family soon moved to Liverpool when his father was offered the role of conductor of the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union and therefore Evans was sent to Liverpool College for his education. Following the death of his father, he took up studies at the Guildhall School of Music at the age of 12 years and subsequently went to the City of London School. By the age of 18 years, he decided on a career in medicine, and with a science scholarship, studied at the London Hospital medical college from 1921 to 1928.

Evans was part of the team that looked after King George VI during his ill health with lung problems and up until his death. Eden had been unwell with upper abdominal pains since 1945. Frequent attacks of pain requiring strong painkillers and periods of rest prompted more extensive investigations. An X-ray demonstrated gallstones, and Eden being an important politician, the royal physician was called for advice. In light of recurrent biliary tract infections, Evans recommended an operation. Three surgeons were recommended and the ultimate decision, taken by Eden, was that John Basil Hume, surgeon from St Bartholomew's Hospital was to perform the surgery in 1953. Hume had previously performed Eden's appendectomy. It is agreed that the initial operation resulted in biliary tract damage, a complication well recognised at the time, and much corrective surgery was needed later by Richard Cattell, again a recommendation of Evans. That the surgery should be done in the United States was objected to by Winston Churchill, who felt that if the king had his operation on a "kitchen table'," Eden could at least have his in a London hospital, but Evans and Cattell visited them at 10 Downing Street and agreed the transfer abroad. During the Suez Crisis, Evans was consulted on numerous occasions by Eden. On Eden's visit to New Zealand in 1957, Evans made notes for doctors should he require medical assistance whilst abroad: Both Helen and Evans died in 1963. He died in October 1963, aged 60, when the barony became extinct.

Personality Towering and marginally slouched, he wore horn-rimmed glasses and enthused confidence in those who sought his advice, whether patient or colleague. Calm and composed during a crisis, his opinions were highly regarded.

Legacy Evans will be remembered as one of the most widely known physician names of his time along with Lord Dawson of Penn and Lord Horder.

He has been widely quoted as the "last of the great physicians". In a speech in 1958 he stated:

"Have you noticed how your patients watch you with an intensity rarely given, even to an actress? Every word you utter, every action you make has a special significance for good or ill, which carries an impression perhaps undreamed of. A sick patient is peculiarly sensitive to any word or action which is not completely sincere. The slightest suggestion of any insincerity can create frustration and despair.’"

Many of the controversies may never be solved. Evans was of a time when "patient's secrets went to the grave with them".

Evans was unwell in his later years, requiring major abdominal surgery in 1962. Never fully recovering, he died in 1963 at the age of 60 years.