Peter Medawar

Date of Birth: February 28, 1915

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: October 2, 1987

Biography

Peter Brian Medawar was a renowned British scientist, best known for his pioneering work in the field of immunology. Born in Brazil to a Lebanese father and a British mother, Medawar moved to the UK at a young age. He received his education at Marlborough College and later at Magdalen College, Oxford. His groundbreaking research on graft rejection and the immune system earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1960, which he shared with Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet. Medawar’s work laid the foundation for modern organ transplantation and immunological research. Beyond his scientific contributions, Medawar was also a prolific author, writing several books and essays on science and philosophy. His wit, eloquence, and critical perspective on scientific matters made him a respected and influential figure in the scientific community.

5 Interesting Facts about Peter Medawar

1. Peter Medawar was knighted in 1965 for his contributions to science.

2. He was a talented writer and authored several influential books, including “The Art of the Soluble” and “Pluto’s Republic.”

3. Medawar’s early interest in biology was sparked by reading Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.”

4. He suffered a stroke in 1969, which left him partially paralyzed, but he continued his scientific work and writing.

5. Medawar was awarded the Copley Medal in 1969, the Royal Society’s oldest and most prestigious award.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Peter Medawar

1. “The human mind treats a new idea the same way the body treats a strange protein; it rejects it.”

2. “To write the history of science is to recognize the mortality of any claim to universal truth.”

3. “I cannot give any scientist of any age better advice than this: the intensity of a conviction that a hypothesis is true has no bearing on whether it is true or not.”

4. “Science is the art of the soluble.”

5. “The alternative to thinking in evolutionary terms is not to think at all.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Peter Medawar’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but as a Nobel laureate and esteemed scientist, his contributions were more intellectual than financial.