Howard Florey

24 September 1898 – 21 February 1968

Howard Florey was an Australian pharmacologist and pathologist who led the Oxford team that turned penicillin into a usable therapeutic drug. He shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Alexander Fleming and Ernst Chain for this achievement. His work made large-scale antibiotic treatment possible and saved countless lives.

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Life events

Born in Adelaide, South Australia
24 September 1898

Born into the family of a boot manufacturer in Adelaide.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Studied at the University of Adelaide and won a Rhodes Scholarship
1921

Completed medical studies and went to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Appointed Professor of Pathology at Oxford
1935

Became head of the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Led development of penicillin as a drug
1939

Directed the Oxford team that purified penicillin and proved its therapeutic power.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
First clinical trials of penicillin
1941

Demonstrated penicillin's effectiveness in treating bacterial infections in patients.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
1945

Shared the prize with Alexander Fleming and Ernst Chain for penicillin.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Elected President of the Royal Society
1960 – 1965

Served as president of Britain's premier scientific society.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Died in Oxford, England
21 February 1968

Died of a heart attack at the age of 69.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓