Arthur Porritt, Baron Porritt
Arthur Espie Porritt, Baron Porritt, GCMG, GCVO, CBE ( born August 10, 1900 in Wanganui, † January 1, 1994 in London) was a New Zealand doctor, politician and athlete. He won at the Summer Olympic Games in 1924, a bronze medal in the 100 -meter run and was from 1967 to 1972 Governor-General of New Zealand.
Porritts mother died in 1914 and his father soon came to Europe to fight in World War II. Porritt began in 1920 at the University of Otago to study medicine. In 1923 he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship and continued his studies from 1924 to 1926 at Magdalen College, Oxford University continued.
The talented athlete represented New Zealand at the Summer Olympic Games in 1924 in Paris. There he won the bronze medal in the 100 -meter run. About 200 meters, he won two heats while, but different with a fifth place in the semifinals. The 100 - meter race was the key scene in the 1981 film turned " Chariots of Fire ". Because Porritts modesty was in the movie the winner of the bronze medal by the fictitious character " Tom Watson" replaced. Porritt traveled to the Summer Olympic Games in 1928 in Amsterdam, but could the 100 -meter run not participate due to injury.
After retiring from athletics Porritt was team leader of the New Zealand team at the British Empire Games in London in 1934 and 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. From 1934 to 1967 he was a member of the International Olympic Committee. (IOC). He was also from 1961 to 1967 the first President of the Medical Commission of the IOC.
From 1926 he worked as a surgeon at St Mary's Hospital in London and in the same year he was house physician to the Duke of York, who was crowned the British king Edward VIII later than. From 1952 to 1967 he was physician to Queen Elizabeth II, he was knighted in 1950 and received in 1963 the title of baronet. In 1973 he became a life peer as Baron Porritt of Wanganui in New Zealand and of Hampstead in Greater London, raised.
During the Second World War was Porritt Brigadier in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served in France until after the Battle of Dunkirk, then in Egypt; He also was involved in Operation Neptune, Normandy. 1960 Porritt President of the British Medical Association ( British Medical Association ) and the Royal College of Surgeons (Royal Surgeons school). 1967 Porritt was appointed Governor-General of New Zealand. He was the first governor, who was born in New Zealand. After the end of his term in 1972 he returned to Britain.
On New Year's Day 1994, he died in London at the age of 93 years. His son Jonathon Porritt is a well-known environmental activist.