Carl Hamilton Browning facts for kids

Carl Hamilton Browning (born May 21, 1881, died January 22, 1972) was a smart scientist from Scotland. He studied tiny living things like bacteria and how our bodies fight off sickness. He is famous for working in Germany with another important scientist named Paul Ehrlich. Carl Browning found out that certain yellow dyes, called acridine dyes, could help treat diseases.

A Scientist's Journey

Early Life and Education

Carl Browning was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on May 21, 1881. His father, Hugh Hamilton Browning, was a school teacher. Carl was a very bright student. He went to Glasgow Academy and was excellent in many subjects. He won medals in English, math, and classics.

After school, he studied medicine at the University of Glasgow. He graduated in 1907. He then got a special scholarship. This allowed him to travel to Germany for two years. He studied at the Paul Ehrlich Institute in Frankfurt. This was a very important time for his research.

Working with Paul Ehrlich

From 1905 to 1907, Carl Browning worked with Paul Ehrlich. Ehrlich was a famous German scientist. Together, they made important discoveries about how our bodies fight off diseases. This work helped them understand how to create medicines that target specific germs.

Career and Discoveries

In 1908, Carl Browning started teaching about bacteria at the University of Glasgow. He worked with Professor Robert Muir. By 1911, at just 30 years old, he became the director of a special lab in Glasgow. This showed how good he was at his research.

During World War I, he worked at a hospital in London. He also became a professor at London University. After the war, he returned to Glasgow. He became a professor of bacteriology at the University of Glasgow. He stayed there until he retired in 1951.

In 1936, he received a special award called the Cameron Prize. This award was for his work on chemotherapy. This means using chemicals to treat diseases.

Studying Fungi

In 1947, Carl Browning started a new section in his department. This section focused on medical mycology. This is the study of fungal diseases in humans. He chose a botanist, James Clark Gentles, to lead this section. Browning knew it was important to understand different types of fungi.

Awards and Recognition

Carl Browning was recognized for his important work.

• In 1928, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
• In 1945, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
• He also received an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews in 1935.

Carl Browning passed away in Glasgow on January 22, 1972. A sculpture of him was made in 1950. It is now in a museum in Glasgow.

Family Life

In 1909, Carl Browning married Isabella Paterson Murdoch. They had three children:

• Paul Browning (born 1910)
• Pauline Browning (1915–2012), who married a plant collector.
• Rosalind Browning (1926–1993), who married a musician and conductor from Guatemala.