Sir Charles Robert Harington,
KBE
KBE may refer to:
* Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, post-nominal letters
* Knowledge-based engineering
Knowledge-based engineering (KBE) is the application of knowledge-based systems technology to the domain o ...
,
FRS (1 August 1897 – 4 February 1972) was a
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...
, best known for synthesising
thyroxine.
Life
Although he was born and raised in
Llanerfyl
Llanerfyl is a village and community in Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales. Located near the River Banwy, the community includes the village of Llanerfyl, several farms and wide tracts of marchland. The southern part of the community includes Cwm Nan ...
, north Wales.
[Harold Himsworth: ''Harington, Sir Charles Robert (1897–1972)'', rev. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 4 July 2013](_blank)
/ref> he was a member of the English aristocracy from the Harington family
Harrington (or Harington) may refer to:
People as a surname
*Harrington (surname)
People as a forename
*Arthur Raikes (Arthur Edward Harington Raikes, 1867–1915), British army officer
*Charles Harrington Elster, American writer
*Edward Joseph ...
which can be traced back to 12th century Rutland. He was the son of Rev Charles Harington of Llanerfyl and his wife Audrey Emma Bayly. He was educated at Malvern College
Malvern College is an Independent school (United Kingdom), independent coeducational day and boarding school in Malvern, Worcestershire, Malvern, Worcestershire, England. It is a public school (United Kingdom), public school in the British sen ...
and then Cambridge University
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
, graduating MA in 1919.
From 1920 to 1922 he was a Research Assistant in the Therapeutics section of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, or RIE, often (but incorrectly) known as the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, or ERI, was established in 1729 and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest v ...
. He gained a PhD in 'Aspect of the pathology of protein metabolism' from the University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
in 1922. He then went to University College, London as a lecturer in Chemical Pathology.
He was Professor of Chemical Pathology at University College London
, mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £143 million (2020)
, budget = ...
between 1931 and 1942, and then director of the National Institute for Medical Research between 1942 and 1962. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...
in 1931. One of his PhD pupils at UCL was Albert Neuberger
Albert Neuberger (15 April 1908 – 14 August 1996) was a British Professor of Chemical Pathology, St Mary's Hospital, 1955–1973, and later Emeritus Professor.
Education in Germany
Born in Hassfurt, northern Bavaria, the first of the three ...
, later Professor of Chemical Pathology at St Mary's Hospital, London
St Mary's Hospital is an NHS hospital in Paddington, in the City of Westminster, London, founded in 1845. Since the UK's first academic health science centre was created in 2008, it has been operated by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, wh ...
, then part of the University of London.
He was knighted
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in 1948 and appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
(KBE) in 1962.
He died at home in Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet, England. It is situated around northwest of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until 1965, when it became part of Greater London. Its population counted 18, ...
in north-west London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
on 4 February 1972.
Family
In 1923 he married Jessie McCririe Craig. They had a son and two daughters.
Publications
*''The Thyroid Gland: Its Chemistry and Physiology'' (1933)
References
1897 births
1972 deaths
Royal Medal winners
Fellows of the Royal Society
National Institute for Medical Research faculty
Welsh people of English descent
People from Montgomeryshire
Welsh chemists
Knights Bachelor
People educated at Malvern College
Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge
Academics of University College London
Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
British biochemists
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