Francis Gano Benedict (October 3, 1870 – April 14, 1957) was an

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chemist,

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, and nutritionist who developed a calorimeter and a spirometer used to determine oxygen consumption and measure metabolic rate.

Biography

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Benedict attended Harvard University, earning his bachelor's degree in 1893 and his master's degree in 1894. He earned his Ph.D., ''

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'', at Heidelberg University in 1895. He taught at Wesleyan University and did work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1909. He was also a descendant of John Gano of Revolutionary War fame, through his great-grandmother Margaret Hubbell Benedict (Gano). After retirement in 1937 he toured and lectured about

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s. He died at his home in Machiasport, Maine, aged 86. Associated Press (May 16, 1957). FRANCIS BENEDICT, A CHEMIST, WAS 86; Former Teacher at Wesleyan and Director of Carnegie Nutrition Laboratory Dies. '' The New York Times''

Fasting study

Benedict observed Agostino Levanzin, who fasted for thirty-one days at the Carnegie nutrition laboratory.

George F. Cahill Jr. George F. Cahill Jr. (July 7, 1927 – July 30, 2012) was an American scientist who significantly advanced the diabetes mellitus research of the 20th century. He focused on metabolic research, especially concerning human glucose metabolism in diabet ...

was influenced by the study and conducted similar studies.Cahill, George F. (2006)
''FuelMetabolism in Starvation''
Annu. Rev. Nutr. 26: 1-22. "In 1965, we enlisted six divinity students to fast for eight days and studied the levels of every metabolic substrate and hormone that we could measure. The central role of insulin in controlling the fed state had been well characterized, and its role in fasting needed clarification. Essentially, we repeated and expanded the 1911 classical study of starvation by Benedict, who fasted a Maltese, Mr. Levanzin, for 30 days and nights."

Selected publications

''The Influence of Inanition on Metabolism''
(1907)
''The Composition of the Atmosphere with Special Reference to its Oxygen Content''
(1912)
''A Study of Prolonged Fasting''
(1915)
''Chemical and Physiological Studies of a Man Fasting Thirty-One Days''
(1915)
''Human Vitality and Efficiency Under Prolonged Restricted Diet''
(1919)

References

External links

Francis Gano Benedict papers, 1870s-1957. MC 062. Harvard Medical Library, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Boston, Mass.National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Benedict, Francis Gano 1870 births 1957 deaths American nutritionists Fasting researchers Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Harvard University alumni Scientists from Milwaukee Heidelberg University alumni Wesleyan University faculty American expatriates in Germany