Agent TypePersonActivities & OccupationsDoctorsPhilanthropistsHistoryJohn Orde Poynton was born in London and educated at Cambridge University and Charing Cross Hospital London. He worked as a health officer, research officer and pathologist in Malaya. He served with the British Army, and, during the Japanese occupation of Singapore, was a prisoner-of-war in Changi for over three years. The Red Cross helped him to come to Australia where he arrivfed in poor health and with a tiny pocket diary. Thereafter he taught at the University of Adelaide Medical School. He became a noted bibliophile, collecting many books, and a chairman of the Friends of the Public Library of South Australia. His book collection was donated to the University of Melbourne, for whom he acted in the role of 'Consulting Bibliographer' for many years. He had a life long interest in family history, and was a major public benefactor to the arts and education in Australia.Search records of this agent
