Smith, Grafton Elliot (1871–1937)

Australian-born anatomist and anthropologist who combined his interests in human anatomy and anthropology in order to conduct research into the mummification of the ancient Egyptians.

Smith was born in Grafton, New South Wales and began his training as a doctor at Sydney University Medical School 1888. He graduated 1892 and following a brief period of clinical practice began to concentrate upon his research 1894, completing his MD thesis on the brains of non-placental mammals (monotremes) 1895. He then came to England to study under Alexander MacAlister at Cambridge, and in 1900 he was appointed professor of anatomy in the New Medical School in Cairo.

While he was in Egypt he began to undertake an archaeological survey of the Nubia combining his interests in anatomy and anthropology by studying mummification and palaeopathology. In 1909 he became professor of anatomy at Manchester University and was appointed to a similar post in University College London 1919. In 1933 he became the Fullerian professor of physiology at the Royal Institute and despite suffering a stroke 1932 he remained in this position until his retirement 1936. He was knighted 1934.