John Thorp (researcher)

John Martin Thorp (1927 – 23 March 2017) was a New Zealand chemistry researcher, university lecturer, and the author of several books, including two autobiographies on his life as a trans man.

For other people named John Thorpe, see John Thorpe (disambiguation).
John Thorp
Born1927
England
Died (aged 90)
Morrinsville, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of London
Scientific career
InstitutionsGuy's Hospital Medical School
University of Auckland
DSIR

Early life, education, and transition

Born in 1927 in the United Kingdom, Thorp was educated at University of London, graduating with a BSc(Hons) in 1949 and PhD in 1951. He then lectured in inorganic and physical chemistry at Guy's Hospital Medical School, London. With the support of his friend (and future wife) Joan, who saved him from suicide, Thorp began his transition in the late 1950s with illegal and risky surgeries, and legally changed his name to John Martin in 1960.[1][2][3]

Move to New Zealand

In 1960 Thorp and his first wife, Joan, moved to New Zealand to escape intense media scrutiny and to take up a position as a chemistry lecturer at University of Auckland.[1][2][4] The media scrutiny continued in New Zealand after being outed by The New Zealand Herald.[4]

After several years of work in Auckland, Thorp was well-regarded as a scientist and in 1969 moved to Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand) (DSIR), where he remained until Joan developed heart problems in 1982. He then retired to spend more time together, living in Coromandel Peninsula until her death in 1989.[1][2][4]

Later life

In 1995 Thorp met his second wife, Hazel, with whom he ran a bed and breakfast in Coromandel before moving to Thames in 2000.[1][2]

On 23rd March 2017 the car driven by Thorp was struck by a train on a level crossing near Morrinsville while driving home from Waikato Hospital. He died immediately, but his wife Hazel walked away and was taken to Waikato Hospital.[1][2][5]

Key works
  • Thorp, JM. 2006. A Change for Good. Auckland, NZ: Cape Catley
  • Thorp, JM. 2010. Second Chance. Auckland, NZ: Heather Mackay

References
  1. "Train crash claims transgender pioneer". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  2. Yalden, Phillipa (2017-03-28). "Transgender pioneer John Martin Thorp, 90, dies in railway crossing collision next to wife". Stuff. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  3. Pearman, Louise. Men and Masqueraders: Cross-gendered identity and behaviour in New Zealand, 1906-1950. MA thesis, University of Otago. 2008.
  4. Hansen, Will Owen. "Every Blood Right To Be Here" - Trans Resistance in Aotearoa New Zealand, 1967-1989". MA (History) Thesis, Victoria University of Wellington. 2020.
  5. Magazine, express (2017-03-30). "John Thorp Named As Morrinsville Crash Victim". express Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
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