John Parkinson

Sir John Parkinson (10 February 1885 – 5 June 1976) was an English cardiologist known for describing Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome.

Biography Parkinson was born in Thornton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, the son of John Parkinson. He was educated at University College London and studied medicine at the University of Freiburg and the London Hospital, qualifying in 1907. He received his M.D. in 1910, subsequently working as an assistant to Sir James Mackenzie at the London Hospital. The first European Congress of Cardiology opened on 10 September 1952 under the chairmanship of Parkinson.

Parkinson married Clara Elvina le Brocq, whom he met while in Rouen during the First World War, daughter of Alfred Le Brocq of St Helier. They had four daughters and one son. Their son, Robert Parkinson, was one of the "Channel Dash Heroes" killed during the Second World War in 1942, at the age of 19.