Sir John Cecil Rankin Buchanan (18 June 1896 – 19 February 1976) was a Scotland international rugby union player. He was knighted in the Queen's 1961 Birthday Honours, as a Medical advisor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Life Buchanan was born in 1896 in Blantyre in what is now Malawi. His parents were Cecelia Mackenzie Ferrie, from Campsie in Scotland and John Buchanan who was a leading figure in what became Malawi. When Cecilia was pregnant in 1896, they set off to return Scotland. His father died at Chinde from fever in Mozambique on 9 March 1896.
Rugby Union career
Amateur career
Buchanan played for Stewart's College FP.The Essential History of Rugby Union: Scotland. Nick Oswald and John Griffiths.
Provincial career
He played for Edinburgh District.
He played for Cities District against Provinces District on 11 December 1920.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002783/19201217/063/0003
He was due to play for the Provinces District against the Anglo-Scots but his place was instead taken by Robert Gallie of Glasgow Academicals.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000566/19201226/098/0015
He played for Scotland Probables against Provinces District on 10 December 1921.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000469/19211215/042/0009
International career
He played for Scotland 16 times from 1921 to 1925.
Military career
In the First World War he joined the Black Watch, as a Lieutenant. He was awarded the Mons Star.
In the Second World War he joined the RAMC.
Medical career
He went to Edinburgh University to study medicine.
He was a Medical advisor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
He was an author of A Guide to Pacific Island Dietaries in 1947.
Family
His father was John Buchanan (1855-1896), his mother Cecilia McKenzie Ferrie (1867-1941).
He married Ileene Belle Ferrier Roberts (1900-1990) in 1931, however they had no children.
References