Arnold Ashley Miles facts for kids
Sir Arnold Ashley Miles was an important British scientist. He was born on March 20, 1904, and passed away on February 11, 1988. He spent many years as the Director of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine. He was also a professor at the University of London, where he taught about how diseases affect the body.
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Early Life and Education
Arnold Ashley Miles was born in York, England. He was the only son among three children. His father, Harry Miles, worked as a draper, selling cloth.
He went to Bootham School in York. This was a Quaker school. From the age of 12, he decided he didn't want to follow the religious practices there.
He was very smart and won a special scholarship to study medicine at King's College, Cambridge. He finished his medical training in 1928 at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. He earned several important medical qualifications, including MRCS and LRCP in 1928, and MRCP in 1929. Later, in 1937, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP). These titles show he was a highly qualified doctor.
A Career in Science
In 1929, Sir Arnold started working at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Here, he began to focus on microbiology, which is the study of tiny living things like bacteria and viruses. He was especially interested in how our bodies fight off diseases, a process called immunity.
He returned to Cambridge in 1931. Later, he became a senior lecturer at the British Postgraduate Medical School in London. In 1937, he was made a professor of bacteriology at University College Hospital Medical School in London.
During World War II, he continued his work as a professor. He also served as a pathologist in the Emergency Medical Service. He led a special unit that studied how wounds got infected. His work helped create good ways to control these infections.
Leading Research
In 1946, Sir Arnold became the deputy director of the National Institute for Medical Research. He also led their department that set standards for biological products. His research focused on how the body reacts to injury and infection, and how our immune system works.
From 1952 to 1971, he was the Director of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine. This institute was very important for studying and preventing diseases. In 1952, he also became a professor of experimental pathology at London University.
His important work was recognized when he was elected a FRS in 1961. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He wrote over 140 scientific papers. He also helped edit five editions of a major book called "Topley and Wilson's Principles of Bacteriology and Immunity."
Even after he retired from the Lister Institute in 1971, he continued to work. He kept going even after having a stroke, showing his dedication to science.
Personal Life and Honors
Sir Arnold Ashley Miles received many awards for his contributions. He was appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1953. In 1966, he was given a knighthood, which means he became "Sir Arnold."
He also received honorary fellowships from many important groups, including King's College, Cambridge, the Institute of Biology, and the Royal Society of Medicine.
In 1930, he married Ellen Marguerite. She was a medical laboratory technician and the half-sister of the famous writer Roald Dahl. Sir Arnold and Ellen did not have any children. He passed away at his home in Hampstead, London.
See Also
- Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine
- Pathology
- Microbiology
