Kidd, George Hugh (1824–95), surgeon, was born 12 June 1824 in Armagh, son of Hugh Kidd and Eliza Kidd (née M'Kinstry). He was educated at schools in Monaghan and Newry, and at the medical schools of TCD and RCSI; he graduated licentiate of the RCSI (1842) and MD and was a gold medallist from Edinburgh University (1845) for his thesis ‘On vaccination, its protective power and the proof of the necessity of revaccination’. He served as a medical officer of the Derrylin dispensary district, Co. Fermanagh, resigning in 1844; was appointed demonstrator of anatomy at the Park St. (Lincoln Place) School of Medicine, Dublin (1845–9); and subsequently lectured in anatomy and physiology at the Dublin School of Medicine, Peter St. (1849–c.1860).
He was assistant physician for many years at the Coombe Lying-in Hospital, Dublin, before being appointed obstetric surgeon (1868) and assistant master (1875); his period of office as master (1876–83) coincided with the opening of the new hospital building and innovations in hospital practice. He is credited with being the originator of puerperal antisepsis (introducing aseptic and antiseptic practice in the hospital) and organised the appointment (1877) of a pathologist to prevent the possible transmission of infection by doctors performing autopsies and attending mothers and babies; during 1879–80 only one woman died during the course of 500 deliveries. Considered the most skilful operator for vesico-vaginal fistula, he was a pioneer in Ireland of the use of laminaria digitalis for dilation of the os uteri for lumbar colotomy, and the use of nitric acid for intra-uterine medication. He developed a flourishing private practice and was consulting surgeon to the Richmond and Mercer's hospitals. Sensitive to the needs of children with intellectual disabilities, he visited asylums in England and Scotland (1865); in the following year he was a member of Lord Charlemont's committee (1866) formed to establish a special institution for their education. He subsequently circulated An appeal on behalf of the idiotic and imbecile children of Ireland (1866) and was co-founder and initial organiser of the Stewart Institution for Idiots, the first and only institution of its kind in Ireland for almost fifty years; its first premises were in Lucan, Co. Dublin, opened in 1869 with twelve pupils, before moving (1879) to Palmerstown, Co. Dublin, where it was later known as Stewart's Hospital.
He was editor of the Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science (1863–8), published papers in medical journals, and occupied many prestigious positions including membership of the council (1872) and president of the RCSI (1876), president of the Irish Medical Association (1879), the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, the Surgical Society of Ireland, and the Dublin obstetrical and pathological societies. In 1886 he was elected by the Irish medical profession as its first representative on the General Medical Council. Honours included hon. MAO from TCD (1883), election to honorary fellowship of the RCSI (1844) and the London and Edinburgh obstetrical societies, and corresponding membership of the Boston and Berlin gynaecological societies. Proud of his heritage as an Ulsterman and presbyterian, he actively supported home rule. He died 26 December 1895 at his home 58 Merrion Square, Dublin, and was buried at Mount Jerome cemetery, Dublin. He married Frances Emily Rigby (d. 1884); on his death he left a widow and a young family.