John Basil Hume

John Basil Hume (1893-1974) was a British surgeon and lecturer in anatomy, who trained and mainly worked at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. As well being an examiner in anatomy for the Royal College of Surgeons and a Hunterian Professor, lecturing in particularly diaphragmatic hernia, he is most commonly remembered for performing Anthony Eden's bile duct operation in 1953.

He qualified in medicine from St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1911, following which, in 1916, he passed the Conjoint Diploma. What happened in the operation at the London Clinic has been debated and it is likely that his nervousness caused the knife to slip and cut the common bile duct. Later, Eden went to Boston to have corrective surgery performed by Richard Cattell.

Personal and family Hume married Marjorie Poole in 1925 and lived in Hampstead with their four daughters.

He was a keen fly fisherman and enjoyed travel. Following a long illness, he died on 2 March 1974 at the age of 80.