Richard Frank Rand

Richard Frank Rand (1858? – January 1937) was educated at the University of Edinburgh. He won the Wightman prize in 1880, and served as demonstrator of anatomy.

He acted as house surgeon at the Oldham Infirmary, and after taking his FRCS went to the West Indies where he practised for some years in Jamaica. From 1910 to 1935 he was again at Salisbury, but took part in the war of 1914–18 in the campaigns in South-West Africa and in East Africa. Retiring in 1935 he settled at Brightlingsea, Essex, where he died on 3 January 1937. Rand was interested in botany and many of his discoveries in South African flora are to be found at Kew and there bear his name. His gifts to the British Museum herbarium were described in the Journal of Botany.

Early life British medical doctor, Rand was born in Plaistow, Essex and qualified in medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He completed his MD in 1889 entitled 'Experiences in Microscopical Technique'. Other qualifications were MRCS and FRCS In 1895-99 Rand was surgeon to the Fort Salisbury Hospital. In this position he did such good work that he was offered a knighthood, which he declined on the ground that he could not afford it. The hospital was a wattle-and-daub building, to which drugs and supplies had to be brought by bullock wagons over 1000 miles of rough track rendered almost impassable for many weeks during the rainy season. His duties took him on horseback to the outlying camps of prospectors and traders ill of malaria and dysentery aggravated by an absence of the elementary necessities of existence. He served with distinction during the South African War, when he was put in charge of the military hospital on Roberts Heights, and on its conclusion he returned to England, giving as his address, during 1900–09, 30 Bury Street, St James's, SW. London. From 1910 to 1935 he was again at Salisbury, and took part in the war of 1914–18 in the campaigns in South-West Africa and in East Africa.

Later life During the First World War he served with the South African Medical Corps in South West Africa, and later lived for some time in the Transvaal. He is remembered for his invention, "Rand's Kicker", Retiring in 1935 he settled at Brightlingsea, Essex, where he died on 3 January 1937.