BA Camb; MRCS Eng LRCP Lond 1917.
Birkett was born in Morecambe on 26 November 1893 and studied at Cambridge and Manchester. He was injured during the war rescuing a wounded soldier and was awarded the Military Cross. Birkett held house positions at MRI and from 1924 was pathologist to Manchester and District Radium Institute, being promoted to director in 1926. He undertook consultancy work over a wide area and was attached to the staff at Manchester Christie Cancer Hospital. Birkett was an active member of the Manchester Committee of Cancer and was recognised as a expert in the radiological treatment of cancer, especially of the tongue. He was also a member of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Birkett died after an acute illness on 5 February 1931, at the age of 37.