Sir Terence Alexander Hawthorne English (3 October 1932 – 23 November 2025) was a South African-born British cardiac surgeon. He was consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Papworth Hospital and Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, 1973–1995. After starting a career in mining engineering, English switched to medicine and went on to lead the team that performed Britain's first successful heart transplant in August 1979 at Papworth, and soon established it as one of Europe's leading heart–lung transplant programmes. Professor John Wallwork subsequently developed the heart lung transplantation programme at Papworth. English was born into a family of mixed Irish, Afrikaans, Yorkshire and Scottish descent. His father died at age 49, leaving his mother to bring up two children in South Africa. After completing a degree in Mining Engineering in Johannesburg, he was inspired by a maternal uncle, who was a surgeon, to study medicine, and with the financial aid of an unexpected legacy travelled to London. After completing his medical training at Guy's Hospital Medical School, he was stimulated by the pioneering open heart surgery taking place in the 1960s and he embarked on a career in cardiac surgery and then specialised in cardiac transplantation. He became president of the Royal College of Surgeons 1989–92, Master of St Catharine's College 1993–2000, Deputy Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire 1994–2001 and president of the British Medical Association 1995–1996. A member of the General Medical Council (GMC) (1983–1989), he was also president of International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation 1984–1985 and held multiple international honorary fellowships and Doctorates of medical colleges and universities. He was knighted a KBE in the 1991 New Years Honours List.
Early life and education Terence English was born on 3 October 1932 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, to Mavis and Arthur English. He had an older sister called Elizabeth. Arthur English died from silicosis when Sir Terence was two years old.
School English went to Parktown Preparatory School for boys in Johannesburg and at the age of ten was sent to board at Cordwalles Preparatory School in Pietermaritzburg, and in 1946, completed his schooling at Hilton College in Natal.
Engineering and university, mining to medicine
After leaving school at the age of seventeen, English worked for a year in what was then Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), as a diamond driller with the Cementation Company (Africa) Ltd on a dam near Salisbury (now Harare). This skill was useful in providing opportunities for summer jobs while he was studying for a BSc in mining engineering at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, which he completed in 1954. His qualifications later provided opportunities for employment in mining exploration in Northern Quebec and Yukon.
Medical school In his penultimate year of engineering, he unexpectedly inherited £2,000 from a family trust and decided this would enable him to change to medicine and spend his professional career as a doctor rather than an engineer. English applied to Guy's Medical School and was accepted by the Dean, George Houston providing he finished his engineering degree successfully. He did this and George Houston was later to play a key role in English's career when he agreed to readmit him after he had resigned during the 2nd year of his studies. Later, he was awarded an honorary fellowship of Guy's Hospital at the same time as Houston. In 1961, English captained the Guy's 1st XV team when they won the Rugby Inter-Hospitals Cup.
Surgical career After completing medical school and internship, English started his surgical training with leading surgeons including Donald Ross and Sir Russell Brock. He also made a working visit with Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in South Africa. After obtaining the FRCS in general surgery he completed his cardiothoracic training at the Royal Brompton Hospital, London Chest and National Heart Hospitals, with a year's research Fellowship with John Kirklin in Birmingham, Alabama.
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