George William Coats was born in Paisley on 08 August 1872 . His father, George Coats, was a merchant. George attended the University of Glasgow from 1890-1895 and 1896-1897 , taking classes from the faculties of arts and medicine. After studying latin and Greek in his first year, George then studied medicine for the remainder of his time at university. He graduated with an MBChB in July 1897 . After completing his terms as House Physician and House Surgeon at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, and House Surgeon at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, George worked briefly in Ireland and was awarded a Special Certificate in Gynaecology from Rotunda Hospital in Dublin in 1899. He then practiced medicine in Paisley and in 1903 was appointed Assistant Physician at the Royal Alexandria Infirmary , Paisley. In 1909, George left Scotland to practice in Rakaia and Christchurch, New Zealand. During the First World War he served as a Medical Officer (and later Medical Superintendant) at Waipukurau Hospital in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. After the war, he returned to New Zealand's South Island, where he continued to practice until his sudden death in Christchurch on 4 October 1939 .
From the guide to the Papers of George William Coats, 1872-1939, medical graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1893, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
