Rocke Robertson

Harold Rocke Robertson, C.C., M.D.C.M., LL.D., F.R.S.C., (August 4, 1912 - February 8, 1998) is the former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University (1962-1970) and a physician.

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, he received a Bachelor of Science in 1932; and graduated from medicine in 1936 both from McGill University. He served in World War II as a surgeon becoming a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of surgery at the Vancouver Military Hospital.

After the war, in 1950, he became the first Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia, where he played a major role in the founding of the medical school.

In 1959, he became Surgeon-in-Chief at the Montreal General Hospital, until being appointed Principal of McGill in 1962. He was the first physician and the first McGill University graduate to serve as its Principal and Vice Chancellor.

He received many honorary degrees from: Bishop's University, University of Manitoba, University of Toronto, University of Victoria (1964), University of Glasgow, University of British Columbia (1964), Université de Montréal, University of Michigan, Dartmouth College and Memorial University (1968).

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1968 and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1969.

He was married to Beatrice Rosalyn Arnold and had four children: Tam, Ian, Bea and Stuart.