Dr Frederick Walter Whitney Dawson
Also known asDr F W Dawson
TitleDrBiographyDr Frederick Walter Whitney Dawson entered the record books twice. He was the first person in the world to register as a Doctor, on the 1st of January in 1901. As a 100 year old, he became the oldest serving General Practitioner in New Zealand. He also served his country across three major international conflicts over four decades.
Frederick was born in Hobsonville, Auckland. His father Dr F W E Watson practised in Auckland and was a supporter of the St John Ambulance service.
Frederick studied medicine at Auckland University then trained at Westminster Hospital in England.
After serving in the Boer War in 1901 and 1902, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served in South Africa, India, Mesopotamia and West Africa.
While in South Africa, he married Nora Oberlin Brown, a New Zealander.
In 1925 the family returned to New Zealand where Dr Dawson joined the Department of Health as Assistant Medical Officer in Christchurch, then as District Medical Officer in Auckland and Taranaki.
During the second World War, despite being over 60, he served with the New Zealand Air Force as Medical Officer and achieving the rank of Colonel. After retiring from the air force in 1942, he became Public Health officer and GP in Whangarei.
Dr Dawson received the Order of St John in 1938 and the Queen's Service Medal in 1975.
Frederick's wife Nora died in 1962. She was 83 years of age.
In his spare time Frederick enjoyed golf, fishing, bowls and amateur theatricals.
The couple had four children; three sons and a daughter. Roderick became a doctor and worked in England. Thomas was killed in Greece in 1941 during WWII in 1941. Richard served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Vyvian, a Karitane nurse, lived in Mill Road Whangarei with her father in his latter years.
Dr Dawson's extraordinary experiences as a doctor in many different locations and circumstances informed his work as a GP. He was a deeply respected community doctor. When asked why he did not retire, he replied that there was a shortage of doctors and he still enjoyed the work, at 100 years old.Date of Birth22 Oct 1876Place of BirthHobsonville, AucklandDate of Death23 Jul 1977Place of DeathWhangarei
TitleDrBiographyDr Frederick Walter Whitney Dawson entered the record books twice. He was the first person in the world to register as a Doctor, on the 1st of January in 1901. As a 100 year old, he became the oldest serving General Practitioner in New Zealand. He also served his country across three major international conflicts over four decades.Frederick was born in Hobsonville, Auckland. His father Dr F W E Watson practised in Auckland and was a supporter of the St John Ambulance service.
Frederick studied medicine at Auckland University then trained at Westminster Hospital in England.
After serving in the Boer War in 1901 and 1902, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served in South Africa, India, Mesopotamia and West Africa.
While in South Africa, he married Nora Oberlin Brown, a New Zealander.
In 1925 the family returned to New Zealand where Dr Dawson joined the Department of Health as Assistant Medical Officer in Christchurch, then as District Medical Officer in Auckland and Taranaki.
During the second World War, despite being over 60, he served with the New Zealand Air Force as Medical Officer and achieving the rank of Colonel. After retiring from the air force in 1942, he became Public Health officer and GP in Whangarei.
Dr Dawson received the Order of St John in 1938 and the Queen's Service Medal in 1975.
Frederick's wife Nora died in 1962. She was 83 years of age.
In his spare time Frederick enjoyed golf, fishing, bowls and amateur theatricals.
The couple had four children; three sons and a daughter. Roderick became a doctor and worked in England. Thomas was killed in Greece in 1941 during WWII in 1941. Richard served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Vyvian, a Karitane nurse, lived in Mill Road Whangarei with her father in his latter years.
Dr Dawson's extraordinary experiences as a doctor in many different locations and circumstances informed his work as a GP. He was a deeply respected community doctor. When asked why he did not retire, he replied that there was a shortage of doctors and he still enjoyed the work, at 100 years old.
Date of Birth22 Oct 1876Place of BirthHobsonville, AucklandDate of Death23 Jul 1977Place of DeathWhangareiWhānau
MotherFlorence Annie ReynoldsFatherDr Frederick William Edmund DawsonChildrenVyvian Nora DawsonCaptain Richard Henry DawsonDr Roderick H DawsonLieutenant Thomas Edward DawsonPartnerNora Oberlin DawsonDate Married25 April, 1908Place of MarriageCapetown, South Africa
FatherDr Frederick William Edmund DawsonChildrenVyvian Nora DawsonCaptain Richard Henry DawsonDr Roderick H DawsonLieutenant Thomas Edward DawsonPartnerNora Oberlin DawsonDate Married25 April, 1908Place of MarriageCapetown, South Africaloading google map....
Dr Frederick Walter Whitney Dawson. Northland Room Digital Collections, accessed 10/11/2026, https://wdc.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/5633
