Alexander Fleming Biography

Sir Alexander Fleming was a microbiologist and physician. He discovered the world’s first effective antibiotic substance. He has a great contribution to microbiology for his scientific discoveries. His discovery of Penicillin was the first ‘single greatest victory ever achieved over disease’ at that time. He was also known for some other discoveries in microbiology. He had achieved several awards and titles for his great contributions. In the 20th century, Alexander Fleming was one of the 100 most important people in the world. 

He was the third ‘Greatest Scot’ after Robert Burns and William Wallace. Sir Alexander Fleming was fond of microbiological research. We can learn a lot of things about the history of antibiotics and microbiology from the Alexander Fleming biography. He also had contributions in World War I as a physician and surgeon. In this article, we will discuss the entire life of this great scientist. 

Early Life and Education

Alexander Fleming was born on 6th August 1881 in Ayrshire, Scotland. He was one of the four children of his farmer parents. His father was Hugh Fleming and his mother was Stirling Morton. He started his education in the Loudoun Moor School and then studied in Darvel School and Kilmarnock Academy before moving to London. He earned a scholarship of two years in Kilmarnock Academy. 

In 1895, he moved to London for further studies. He lived there with his elder brother, Thomas Fleming. In London, Fleming completed his basic education at the University of Westminster, formerly known as the Regent Street Polytechnic. After completing basic education, he joined St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School at the University of London in 1901. He won the gold medal as the top medical student in 1908. Fleming was a member of the Territorial Army in the London Scottish Regiment from 1900 to 1914.

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Early Career

After completing medical education, Alexander Fleming entered the medical field as a doctor. Though he thought about becoming a surgeon, he got a temporary position in the Inoculation Department of St. Mary’s Hospital. After this, he changed his path in the medical industry toward a new field called bacteriology. Under the guidance of Sir Almroth Edward Wright, he developed his research skills. He was an immunologist and bacteriologist, who opened a new direction in medical treatment with his revolutionary ideas of vaccine therapy. Fleming became a great microbiologist under his guidance and started his research in microbiology and vaccine therapy.

Contribution in World War I

Fleming had a great contribution to World War I. He was serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World I. He studied wound infections and worked as a bacteriologist in a makeshift lab in France. He discovered the antiseptics there, which was commonly used at that time. Antiseptics affect the immune system of the body and help to break down harmful bacterias. The soldiers of World War I used these antiseptics for healing the wounds. Fleming suggested some tricks for quick recovery of the soldiers, which went largely unheeded. He helped the injured soldiers to recover by his surgical treatments and antiseptics in World War I. After returning from World War I, Alexander joined St. Mary’s in 1918 as an assistant director of the Inoculation Department. Later, he became the professor of bacteriology at the University of London In 1928.

Alexander Fleming Discovery

Though Fleming is famous for discovering Penicillin, his other notable discovery was lysozyme. It is an antiseptic enzyme mildly found in body fluids. Alexander discovered it in 1921 while nursing a cold. A drop of mucus dripped onto a cultured bacteria. Fleming thought about the effect of mucus on bacterial growth. After observing for a few weeks, he found that the bacteria were no longer alive. Thus, he discovered his first great antiseptic. It has a significant contribution to the research of the human immunity system.

Alexander Fleming Penicillin 

While reading the Alexander Fleming biography, the most important part is the discovery of penicillin. It was the first antibiotic in the world of medical science. Fleming always used to research any bacteria in his laboratory. He returned to his laboratory after a month in September 1928. After returning, he noticed that a culture of staphylococcus aureus had become contaminated with mould and the colonies around the mould were destroyed. At first, he thought the mould was a more powerful antiseptic than lysozyme and started investigations. During the research work, he found that it was not an antiseptic enzyme but it has more powerful features. After trying so hard, Fleming could not purify the mould. But he pointed it out as a clinically potential antibiotic. Thus, he discovered the first antibiotic Penicillin from Penicillium notatum. 

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Last Years and Awards

Fleming became the head of the Inoculation Department of St. Mary’s Hospital. He was the president of the Society for General Microbiology. He served the Pontifical Academy of Science as an active member. In his lifetime, he was awarded several respected awards and honours. He won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering Penicillin in 1945. He was elected an FRS (Fellow of the Royal Society) in 1943. The Royal College of Surgeons of England awarded him with the Hunterian Professorship. King George VI Knighted him in 1944. The president of the United States awarded him with the Medal for Merit. He was named rector of Edinburgh University from 1951 to 1954. Apart from these, he was awarded the Grand Cross by several counties and was awarded many prizes. According to Time magazine, Fleming was one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th century.

How Did Alexander Fleming Die?

Fleming had been suffering from gastric in his last few weeks. Suddenly he had a heart attack on the 11th of March in 1955. He died of coronary thrombosis on that day at his home at the age of 74. 

Alexander Fleming Facts

Now, we will discuss some unknown facts about Sir Alexander Fleming:

• Fleming is known as the Penicillin Man.

• Fleming was not the only person who got the Nobel Prize for discovering Penicillin. Two more associate scientists got the prize jointly. 

• Fleming was knighted by the kings of two countries. 

Apart from the life of Alexander Fleming, we can know the history of medical science and microbiology from his biography. He brought a massive change in the medical world by discovering the first antibiotic. Fleming was a versatile person in the history of medical science.