Frederick Hopkins

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Frederick Hopkins

Frederick Gowland Hopkins
Born	June 20, 1861 Eastbourne, Sussex, England
Died	May 16, 1947 Cambridge, England
Residence	England
Nationality	English
Field	Biochemist
Institution	University of Cambridge
Alma mater	University of London Guy's Hospital
Academic advisor	Thomas Stevenson
Notable students	J.B.S. Haldane Judah Hirsch Quastel Malcolm Dixon
Known for	Discovery of vitamins, tryptophan
Notable prizes	Nobel Prize (1929)
He is notably the father-in-law of the writer J. B. Priestley. Although he had no formal doctoral advisor, his equivalent mentor was Thomas Stevenson.

Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins (June 20, 1861 – May 16, 1947) was an English biochemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1929, with Christiaan Eijkman, for the discovery of vitamins. He also discovered the amino acid tryptophan, in 1901.

Hopkins was born in Eastbourne in Sussex on June 20, 1861, and studied at the University of London and the medical school at Guy's Hospital (King's College London). He became Professor of Biochemistry at Cambridge University in 1914, where his students included neurochemistry pioneer Judah Hirsch Quastel.

He was awarded the 1929 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (together with Christiaan Eijkman) for his discovery that certain trace substances -- now known as vitamins -- are essential for the maintenance of good health. He also discovered that muscle contraction can lead to the accumulation of lactic acid.

Hopkins was knighted in 1925.

[edit] Timeline

• June 30, 1861: Born in Eastbourne, Sussex, England.
• 1890: Gains B.Sc. degree from University of London.
• 1894: Medical degree from Guy's Hospital, London.
• 1898: Married to Jessie Anne Stevens.
• 1898-1910: Lecturer in Chemical Physiology, Cambridge University.
• 1905: Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (Britain's most prestigious scientific organization).
• 1910: Appointed Fellow and Praelector in Biochemistry, Trinity College, Cambridge.
• 1912: Publishes "Feeding Experiments Illustrating the Importance of Accessory Food Factors in Normal Dietaries", demonstrating the need for vitamins in diet.
• 1914-1943: First ever Professor of Biochemistry at Cambridge University.
• 1918: Awarded Royal Medal of the Royal Society.
• 1925: Knighted by King George V.
• 1926: Awarded Copley Medal of the Royal Society.
• 1929: Wins Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology.
• 1930-1935: President of the Royal Society.
• 1933: President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
• 1935: Awarded the Order of Merit (Britain's most exclusive civilian honor).
• May 16, 1947: Dies in Cambridge, England.

[edit] Reference

• Thomas, N.J.T. 1998. The Life and Scientific Work of Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins

[edit] External Links

• Nobel Prize biography
• Biography by N.J.T. Thomas
• Chemical genealogy

Honorary Titles
Preceded by The Lord Rutherford of Nelson	President of the Royal Society 1930–1935	Succeeded by Sir William Bragg