MB Toronto 1916; MRCS LRCP 1919, MD 1922; MSc Manch 1929
Maitland demonstrated that vaccinia virus would grow in living tissue cells, and he developed a culture medium for the preparation of the Salk polio vaccine, which became known as 'Maitland's medium'. Maitland was born in Porty Perry, Ontairo, in 1895, and received his medical education at Toronto University. He served as a surgeon-lieutenant in the Royal Navy before studying and holding posts in England, Germany and Canada. He was bacteriologist to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Foot and Mouth Disease of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. By the age of 32, Maitland was one of the country's leading microbiologists. In 1927 he was appointed professor of bacteriology and preventive medicine at the University of Manchester, a position he held until his retirement in 1962, when he was made emeritus professor. In 1932, Maitland was appointed as the representative of the University on the governing body of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine. He was dean of the medical school from 1936 to 1938. During his time at Manchester, Maitland, jointly with his wife Mary Maitland, née Cowan, wrote his paper on the growth of the vaccinia virus. After retiring from Manchester, Maitland when to Malaya to support medical research there, and stayed as Colombo Plan bacteriologist from 1962 to 1966. He was a member of MMS and an accomplished painter and bought many paintings by Lowry. Maitland died on 13 January 1972.