Alexander Fleming

Alexander Fleming, born in 1881, is famous for discovering the antibiotic penicillin.

At the age of 20, Fleming inherited a small sum of money from an uncle, which he used to follow his brother into the medical profession.

In October 1901, Alexander Fleming qualified for medical school.

On July 1, 1904, Alexander Fleming became a surgeon.

In 1906, Alexander Fleming successfully graduates from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School with distinction.

In 1908, Alexander Fleming won the gold medal as the top medical student at the University of London. This achievement marked his excellence in the field of medicine during his academic years.

In June 1909, Alexander Fleming qualified to do surgical work.

In 1914, Alexander Fleming joined the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War, serving as a captain alongside other medical professionals at a makeshift army laboratory in Boulogne, France.

Alexander Fleming married Sally McElroy on June 1, 1915.

On December 23, 1915, Alexander Fleming marries Nurse Sarah Marion McElroy of Ireland.

On December 24, 1915, Alexander Fleming married Sarah Marion McElroy, a trained nurse. Their marriage resulted in one child, Robert Fleming, who later became a general medical practitioner.

In 1916, Alexander Fleming serves as Captain of the Army Medical Corps during World War I, dedicating most of his time to working in battlefield hospitals.

During World War I, Fleming conducted an experiment that revealed why antiseptics were ineffective in treating infected wounds. He found that antiseptics worsened injuries by removing beneficial agents and sheltering anaerobic bacteria in deep wounds.

In 1918, Alexander Fleming returns to St. Mary's after his service in World War I.

In 1919, Alexander Fleming was appointed as the Hunterian Professor, recognizing his expertise and knowledge in the medical field.

On June 1, 1921, Alexander Fleming discovered lysozyme, an enzyme with natural antibacterial properties found in many body fluids.

In May 1922, Alexander Fleming reported the discovery of lysozyme, a bacteriolytic element found in tissues and secretions. He named it 'Lysozyme' due to its ferment-like properties and its ability to dissolve certain bacteria.

After the First World War, Alexander Fleming discovered and demonstrated the natural antiseptic properties of the enzyme he named 'lysozyme'.

On September 1, 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.

In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin when he noticed that a culture plate of Staphylococcus aureus had become contaminated by a fungus, Penicillium notatum, which inhibited the growth of the bacteria. This chance observation led to the discovery of one of the first antibiotics.

On September 28, 1928, Fleming accidentally discovered the world's first antibiotic after mold he developed created a bacteria-free circle around itself.

In his first clinical trial in 1929, Alexander Fleming treated his research scholar Stuart Craddock with penicillin for a severe nasal antrum infection. This trial, although unsuccessful, marked the beginning of penicillin's medical use.

On 13 February 1929, Alexander Fleming presented his discovery of penicillin before the Medical Research Club, but it did not receive much attention or comment at that time.

In 1929, Alexander Fleming gave the name 'penicillin' to the antibiotic he discovered, which would later revolutionize the treatment of bacterial infections.

On March 7, 1929, Fleming named his discovery 'penicillin'.

On May 10, 1929, Alexander Fleming published a report on penicillin, the antibiotic he had discovered, marking a significant milestone in the development of this groundbreaking treatment for bacterial diseases.

Cecil George Paine, a pathologist, successfully treated eye infections in patients with penicillin on November 25, 1930. This marked the first documented successful medical use of the antibiotic.

In 1932, Alexander Fleming successfully treated severe conjunctivitis using penicillin on Keith Bernard Rogers, a medical student at St Mary's who was about to participate in a rifle shooting competition.

In 1938, Chain discovered Fleming's 1929 paper on antibacterial substances, which had been overlooked in scientific literature. This discovery intrigued Chain and led to further research.

In 1939, Alexander Fleming continued his research on penicillin, attempting to improve production methods using different media, contradicting the assertion that he had abandoned penicillin work in the early 1930s.

In 1940, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain demonstrated the therapeutic potential of penicillin in fighting bacterial diseases, a decade after Alexander Fleming's initial discovery. This marked a significant milestone in the history of medicine.

On February 12, 1941, Albert Alexander became the first human to receive penicillin after developing a life-threatening infection. Despite initial success, the drug supply ran out, leading to his unfortunate death.

In February 1942, Merck and Squibb formed a collaborative agreement, later joined by Pfizer in September, to work on the synthesis of penicillin. This marked the beginning of multiple companies showing interest in the production of the drug.

By March 1942, enough penicillin had been produced under OSRD auspices to treat the first patient, Mrs. Ann Miller, in New Haven, Connecticut. This marked a significant milestone in the medical application of penicillin.

In December 1942, Heatley joined Merck research staff and introduced the Oxford cup plate method for penicillin assay. This method quickly became a standard practice in the industry for testing penicillin potency.

In 1943, Alexander Fleming became a Fellow of the Royal Society, a prestigious scientific organization, in recognition of his groundbreaking work in the field of medicine.

In 1944, Alexander Fleming was knighted by King George VI for his significant contributions to the field of medicine, particularly his discovery of penicillin.

As of March 15, 1945, penicillin became widely available to consumers through regular distribution channels, making it accessible in local pharmacies.

In 1945, Alexander Fleming was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of penicillin. Although he was involved in the development of penicillin, Fleming let Howard Florey and his team at Oxford University do most of the work leading up to mass production.

On December 11, 1945, Alexander Fleming delivered his Nobel Lecture on Penicillin, discussing the revolutionary impact of the antibiotic on medicine and society.

On June 1, 1946, penicillin was made available for sale to the general public in the United Kingdom as a prescription-only drug, marking a significant milestone in healthcare.

In 1947, Alexander Fleming was awarded the Gold Medal by the Royal Society of Medicine, acknowledging his exceptional achievements and advancements in the medical field.

In 1948, Alexander Fleming was awarded the Grand Cross of Alphonse X the Wise by Spain, honoring his remarkable achievements and contributions to the scientific community.

In 1949, the annual production of penicillin in the United States reached 133,229 billion units, with a significant drop in price from twenty dollars per 100,000 units in 1943 to less than ten cents.

In 1952, Alexander Fleming was knighted for his contributions to science, particularly for his discovery of penicillin.

On April 9, 1953, Alexander Fleming remarried.

On March 11, 1955, Alexander Fleming passed away at his home in London due to a heart attack. His contributions to the field of medicine, particularly the discovery of penicillin, left a lasting impact on healthcare.

In 1966, the source of the fungal contaminant in Fleming's laboratory was traced back to La Touche's room, which was located directly below Fleming's workspace.

Dr. Amalia Koutsouri-Vourekas, the Greek colleague and wife of Alexander Fleming, passed away in 1986.

In 1998, Sir Henry Harris summarized the crucial roles of Alexander Fleming, Ernst Boris Chain, Howard Florey, and Norman Heatley in the discovery and development of penicillin. He highlighted the interconnected contributions that led to the groundbreaking antibiotic.

On November 19, 1999, Alexander Fleming was designated as an International Historic Chemical Landmark for his discovery and development of penicillin. The designation took place at the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum in London, U.K., and was also recognized at various locations in the United States.

In 2002, Alexander Fleming was chosen in the BBC's television poll for determining the 100 Greatest Britons, recognizing his significant contributions to British history and culture.

In 2009, Alexander Fleming was voted third 'greatest Scot' in an opinion poll conducted by STV, showcasing his enduring legacy and influence in Scotland.