John Cairney (anatomist)

Dr
John Cairney
5th Director-General of Health
In office
February 1950  October 1959
Preceded byThomas Ritchie
Succeeded byHarold Turbott
Personal details
Born8 October 1898
Greymouth, New Zealand
Died5 August 1966
Wellington, New Zealand
Spouse
Claris Dorothy Kempthorne
(m. 1920)
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Otago

John Cairney CMG (8 October 1898 5 August 1966) was the New Zealand Director-General of Health and Inspector-General of Hospitals, an anatomist, a medical superintendent and a writer and painter. He was born in Greymouth, New Zealand, on 8 October 1898.

In 1953, Cairney was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. In the 1960 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.