Sir Harry C Sinderson Pasha (1891-1974): Physician, medical educator and royal confidant

Abstract

Following the end of the First World War, several British orientalists had a significant influence on politics and development in a number of Arab countries in the Middle East. These include familiar figures such as TE Lawrence in Hejaz, Jordan and Syria, Gertrude Bell in Iraq, Harry St John Philby (later Sheikh Abdullah) in Saudi Arabia and Sir John Glubb (Glubb Pasha) in Jordan. There are however other less well-known individuals, of whom Harry Sinderson Pasha is one. Sinderson was a physician who played a significant role in the development of health and medical education in modern Iraq after it was established by the British in 1920. He was personal physician to the Royal family of Iraq, a confidant to King Faisal I and then to the Prince Regent, and he played an important role in the politics of that period. © 2013 Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.