Thomas Beattie was born in Newcastle, the son of John Beattie, who became mayor of that city in 1900, and spent the whole of his life there. He attended the Grammar School as a boy and the University of Durham College of Medicine as a student, graduating as M.B, B.S, with first-class honours, in 1890. He was associated with the Royal Victoria Infirmary throughout his career, in junior posts, and as assistant physician (1897-1907), physician (1907-1927) and consulting physician. On his retirement from the active staff, he became director of the medical division of the Newcastle General Hospital.

At the College of Medicine he held a succession of teaching posts, culminating in the chair of medicine, to which he succeeded in 1927. A visit to Switzerland to cure a tuberculous pulmonary lesion gave him a special interest in chest troubles, and he was one of the promoters of the Barrasford Sanatorium. During the 1914-1918 War he served in the 1st Northern General Hospital as a lieutenant-colonel. A physician of the old school, he made thorough clinical examinations and distrusted modern ancillary aids. He was married and had two sons and a daughter. He died in the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

G H Brown

[Lancet, 1945; B.M.J., 1945]