Daniel Dougal was a renowned gynaecologist. He was born in Lanarckshire, but at an early age moved to Blackburn, where his father was in general practice. Educated at Manchester Grammar School and the University of Manchester, he took his medical degrees in 1906, and was awarded the MD in 1913 with a thesis on pelvimetry. His early career was spent at MRI, Manchester Northern and St Mary's hospitals. In 1919 he joined St Mary's, becoming assistant gynaecological surgeon at MRI in 1925. In 1927 Dougal was appointed to the chair of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Manchester, and held this post until his death. He worked very hard to make a success of this post, and enjoyed great renown as a professor.
Dougal held a number of distinguished appointments - he was a past president of Manchester Pathological Society and of NEOGS, and a vice-president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He was also president of the Manchester Medical Society in 1947. Dougal was awarded a military cross during the First World War. In 1940 he commanded the Fifth Western general hospital at Davyhulme, Manchester.