John Charles (doctor)

Sir John Charles (26 July 1893 – 6 April 1971) was the tenth Chief Medical Officer.

He qualified in medicine at Durham in 1916 and was appointed Assistant Medical Officer of Health for Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1928. He moved to London in 1944 as Deputy Chief Medical Officer where he assisted with the planning of the National Health Service.

He was appointed Chief Medical Officer in 1950 and retired in 1958. He devoted considerable attention to the development of the World Health Organisation for which he continued to work after his retirement.