| Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 2, 1850 Hornsey, Middlesex |
| Died | March 29, 1935 (aged 84) North Berwick, East Lothian |
| Nationality | English |
| Fields | physiology |
| Alma mater | University College London |
| Doctoral advisor | William Sharpey |
| Known for | insulin endocrine |
Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer FRS[1] FRSE (June 2, 1850, Hornsey, Middlesex – March 29, 1935, North Berwick, East Lothian) was an English physiologist who coined the word "insulin" after theorising that a single substance from the pancreas was responsible for diabetes mellitus. He also coined the term "endocrine" for the secretions of the ductless glands, after demonstrating the existence of adrenaline (together with George Oliver) in 1894. Schafer's Method of artificial respiration is named for him.[2]
Contents |
Born Schäfer, he was the third son of city merchant J.W.H. Schäfer, who was Hamburg born but came to Britain as a young man and became a naturalised citizen. He attended University College London in 1868 where he was taught by William Sharpey. He became the first Sharpey Scholar in 1871. Qualifying in medicine in 1874, he was immediately appointed Assistant Professor of Practical Physiology, and was elected to the Royal Society when he was only 28 years old.
His career continued at UCL, where he was appointed Fullerian Professor, and then Jodrell Professor. In 1899 he was appointed to the Chair of Physiology at the University of Edinburgh, where he remained until his retirement in 1933.
He was married twice, to Maud Dixey and Maude Roberts (after Maud's death), and had five children (three girls and two boys) to Maud. However, he survived both his sons, both having died in action in World War I. He was president of the British Medical Association in 1912 and was knighted in 1913.New International Encyclopedia He introduced suprarenal extract into medicine.New International Encyclopedia He prefixed his teacher William Sharpey's surname to his own in 1918, in order to perpetuate the name.
Besides valuable papers on muscular structure, on the chemistry of blood proteids, on absorption, and on the rhythm of voluntary contraction, he wrote:
He edited Quain's Elements of Anatomy (with G. D. Thane, 8th, 9th, and 10th editions).
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alfred Henry Garrod |
Fullerian Professor of Physiology 1875–1878 |
Succeeded by John Gray McKendrick |