Background
Finnigan was born on 3 April 1901 at Lawside House, Dundee. His father was Andrew Finnigan, a Spirit Dealer, and his mother was Margaret Breslin.
Finnigan was born on 3 April 1901 at Lawside House, Dundee. His father was Andrew Finnigan, a Spirit Dealer, and his mother was Margaret Breslin.
He was educated at Harris Academy, Dundee. He graduated at Saint Andrews University in 1923 having qualified as a dental surgeon.
He served as Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen from 1955 to 1960. Shortly after graduation in 1923, he joined the Royal Navy as a dental surgeon. He died on July 27, 1967 at the Queen Alexandra"s Military Hospital, London, at the age of 66.
His photographic portrait is available at the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Before World War Two he served as dental surgeon on the following vessels: Her Majesty Ships, Delhi, Norfolk, Dorsetshire and Achilles, and also on the China Station. 1929 — Appointed Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander
1932-1933 — HMS Dorsetshire
1933 — HMS Achilles
1936 — Appointed Surgeon Commander
1937-1939 — Registered Nurse Hospital, Hong Kong
1939-1945 — Served in the United Kingdom, Africa, Italy and Malta.
Made acting Surgeon Captain while on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, and served as Fleet Dental Surgeon. 1949 — Confirmed in the rank of Surgeon Captain and served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth
1955 — Made Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen
1957-1960 — Appointed Surgeon Rear Admiral and Deputy Director General, Dental Services at the Admiralty.
1960 — Retired from the Royal Navy and made Companion of the Order of the Bath (Central Bank).