Diarmid Noel Paton

Diarmid Noel Paton

Diarmid Noel Paton, FRS (19 March 1859 – 30 September 1928) was a Scottish physician and academic. From 1906 to 1928, he was the Regius Professor of Physiology at the University of Glasgow.^[1] He was a son of the distinguished artist, Sir Joseph Noel Paton.

Early life and education

Born in Edinburgh, Paton studied at the University of Edinburgh, graduating BSc in 1880 and MB, CM, with first-class honours in 1882. He then spent a year studying in Vienna, Strasbourg and Paris before returning to Edinburgh.

Career

Paton was House Physician first at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and then at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. In 1884 he was awarded a Fellowship at Edinburgh University in the physiology department, which he held until 1889 when he was appointed director of the new research laboratory at the Royal College of Physicians. ^[2] He was interested in researching diabetes, rickets, and other issues surrounding nutrition. In 1886, Paton was appointed as lecturer in physiology at Surgeons' Hall. While Paton was the Superintendent of the College Laboratory, he devoted his time wholly to research and teaching. He became the first physiologist in Britain to devote serious study to issues surrounding the metabolism. He later became well known for his work on the relationship between poverty, nutrition and growth.^[3]

He was appointed Regius Professor of Physiology at the University of Glasgow in 1906. At Glasgow, Paton continued his pioneering research on the metabolism and nutrition. ^[4] At Glasgow, Paton became widely known for his contributions to the understanding of rickets.

Paton was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1906.

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