The most important British psychologist of the first half of the twentieth century, credited with turning British psychology from a branch of mental philosophy into a branch of experimental science.

Myers studied at the University of Cambridge and in 1898 joined the Cambridge team conducting Britain's first anthropological expedition to the Torres Strait islands. Once there he helped conduct psychometric experiments on the islanders.

Following his return Myers pursued a career in psychology. He became director of Britain's first experimental psychology laboratory in Cambridge and established a similar laboratory at King's College London.

During the First World War Myers initiated the first systematic work on the psychological problems experienced by soldiers. He introduced the term 'shell shock' into the medical literature, something he later regretted.

After the war Myers abandoned his academic career in order to further the cause of applied psychology. In 1921 he co-founded the National Institute of Industrial Psychology (NIIP) with Henry Welch, a company director. Its ambition was to promote the use of psychology in the workplace and occupational health.

By the late 1930s Myers had fallen out of favour with his younger colleagues and was eventually eased out of the organisation he had created.