1911-1982

British Surgeon and Inventor

In the late 1950s and early 1960s John Charnley developed successful techniques and materials for total hip replacement (THR) surgery. This operation is now common, and is responsible for giving long-term pain relief and restoring mobility, functionality, and high quality of life to millions of patients.

Charnley was born into a middle class Methodist family in Bury, a northwestern suburb of Manchester, England. His father, Arthur, was what is called a "chemist" in Britain but a "pharmacist" in America. His mother, Lily, was a nurse. He had a younger sister, Mary, who received her degree in English literature from Girton College, Cambridge University, and had a distinguished career as a teacher and school administrator.

Charnley went through the usual boys' course of study at Bury Grammar School from 1919 to 1929. He was not a diligent student, but did well in...