Dr. John Symonds Lyon Browne was born on April 13, 1904 in Wembley, London, England.

Browne was educated at Westmount High School and subsequently attended McGill University where he obtained his B.A. in 1925, his M. D. in 1929 and his PhD. in 1932 under endocrinologist J. B. Collip. Following his PhD degree, he obtained a traveling fellowship from the Royal Society of Canada and worked in Europe under Professors: A Butenandt in Gottingen, Germany, Otto Loewi at the University of Graz, and G. L. Evans at University College in London. Browne then returned to McGill University as a research fellow. In the course of his career at McGill University, he became Professor of Medicine, Chairman of the Department of Medicine, and Director of the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Sir Thomas Browne; born 19 October 1605 in London; died 19 October 1682 in Norwich; English polymath and author of varied works which reveal his wide learning in diverse fields including science and medicine, religion and the esoteric. Browne's writings display a deep curiosity towards the natural world, influenced by the scientific revolution of Baconian enquiry, while his Christian faith exuded tolerance and goodwill towards humanity in an often intolerant era.

Herbert Alexander Bruce was born on September 28, 1868, in Blackstock, Ontario.

He was a physician, educator, and politician who served as the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1932-1937). He was educated at the University of Toronto (M.D., 1893), Vienna and Paris. Specializing in surgery, he rose to the top of his profession. In 1911, he founded the Wellesley Hospital in Toronto and became a professor of surgery at the University of Toronto. During World War I, he was appointed Inspector-General of the Canadian Medical Services. He produced the Bruce Report on the Canadian Army Medical Service, a frank criticism of medical care provided to Canadian soldiers serving overseas. The report was disowned by the government, and he was dismissed from his duties. Dedicated to public service, Bruce was appointed the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1932-1937) and served as the Conservative member of Parliament for Parkdale, Toronto (1940-1946). In 1934, he condemned the state of Toronto's poorer neighbourhoods and was a vocal member of the Opposition during World War II. Bruce championed cancer care in the 1920s, social housing in the 1930s, better health care for the military and veterans, and the introduction of contributory health insurance in the 1940s. His autobiography "Varied Operations" was published in 1958.

In 1919, He married Angela Hall (1895–1982). He died on June 23, 1963, in Toronto, Ontario.