Major-General Sir Richard Havelock Charles, Bt., [G.C.V.O.], [K.C.S.I.], was born in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone and graduated as a Doctor of Medicine with First Class Honours and a Gold Medal from Queen's University, Ireland in 1881. Entering the Indian Medical Service in the following year, he had attained the rank of Colonel by 1902 and three years later was appointed Physician in Ordinary to the Prince of Wales. He was afterwards Sergeant Surgeon to King George V until 1928, having been advanced to Surgeon-General of the I.M.S. back in 1913. This period of employ with the Royal Household also witnessed his appointment to G.C.V.O. in 1912 and K.C.S.I. in 1923, a Baronetcy following on his retirement in 1928.