William Jolly : father of medical science in South Africa

William Jolly graduated in medicine at Edinburgh University in 1906 and became research assistant to Sir Edward Sharpey Schafer. He also mastered various techniques in electrophysiology under Einthoven, graduating D.Sc. in 1911. In 1911 he was appointed first Professor of Physiology and in 1918 first Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cape Town. He conducted and stimulated research there and in recognition thereof was awarded an Honorary LI.D. by Edinburgh University and a special allowance from the University of Cape Town. He was President of the Royal Society of South Africa, a trustee of the South African Museum and a member of the National Research Council and Board.