John Martin Coates Obituary
Death of a Distinguished Guardsman in India
July 10 1895
News has been received of the death of Brigade Surgeon Coates M.D. at Calcutta. Dr Coates was a native of Portaferry. Born in 1832, he matriculated in Queen's College, Belfast, in 1852; graduated M.D. of Queen's University in 1855; joined the Indian Medical Service by 67 competitive examination in 1856; and proceeded at once to Bengal and passed through the Mutiny of 1857 and subsequent years.
After the usual term of active service, he was appointed Sanitary Commissioner of Bengal, and subsequently became President of, and Professor of Medicine in the Medical College, Calcutta, which position he held for many years. After two extensions of service in these two posts, he retired in 1890, with the rank of Brigade-Surgeon.
During the later part of his career, he was considered the most skilled physician on the Eastern side of India and enjoyed an extensive and most lucrative practice as a consulting physician.
During the past year he was travelling in Greece with his wife and members of his family. Some time ago he was summoned by telegram to India to attend a Rajah who had great faith in his skill. The call, under the circumstances, he considered imperative and went out to Calcutta. While there he fell victim to cholera.
Dr Coates had an Indian reputation as a physician and Professor in the Medical College. He was a great favourite with both Europeans and natives. He was offered, at the time, the position in the service, that of Surgeon-General of Bengal, but declined it.
He was brother-in-law of the late Dr. Orr of Antrim, Clerk of Assembly, having married in 1863, Sophia, daughter of the late Mr. Martin Harper, Belfast. She survives him. A son is practicing as a Doctor in London. Two or three of his daughters are married to military men in India.
COATES: July 10th at Calcutta, of cholera, Brigade-Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel John M. Coates M.D. Indian Medical Service and late President of the Medical College Calcutta, in his sixty-fourth year
John Martin Coates 1832 - 1895
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