David Willis Wilson Henderson facts for kids
David Willis Wilson Henderson (born July 23, 1903 – died August 16, 1968) was a famous microbiologist from Scotland. He studied tiny living things like bacteria and viruses. Henderson was once the president of the Society for General Microbiology. He also received the US Medal of Freedom for his important work.
Early Life and Studies
David Henderson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 23, 1903. He went to a school called Hamilton Academy, which was known for being very good at academics.
After school, he studied agricultural bacteriology at the University of Glasgow. This means he learned about bacteria related to farming. In 1926, he finished his studies.
He then became a teacher of bacteriology at King's College, Durham University. In 1930, he earned his MSc degree. This was for his research on infections in lambs. That same year, he married Beatrice Mary Davenport Abell.
In 1931, Henderson received a special scholarship called a Carnegie Research Fellowship. This allowed him to do research at the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine in London. He continued his research there for several years. In 1934, he earned his PhD from the University of London. His PhD work focused on how the body fights off certain types of bacteria.
Work During the War
By 1940, David Henderson was doing important research at the Lister Institute. He was studying how the body's defense system (immunology) worked. He also looked at how toxins, which are harmful substances, could be spread through the air.
During World War II, Henderson was asked to help the government. He worked at a special place called Porton Down in Wiltshire. In October 1940, a team of scientists, including Henderson, was put together. Their job was to research how to protect people from harmful germs. This team later became known as the Microbiological Research Establishment. In the same year, Henderson earned another degree, a DSc, from the University of London.
In 1943, Henderson was part of a team sent to the United States. They advised on how to protect against biological warfare. This means protecting against the use of germs as weapons. He continued his work on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean during the war. For his efforts, he received the US Medal of Freedom in 1946.
After the War
In 1946, David Henderson became the director of the research department at Porton Down. Under his leadership, new laboratories were built between 1948 and 1951. The work done by Henderson and his team at Porton Down became famous worldwide.
His important contributions were recognized with several honors:
- In 1957, he was awarded the CB.
- In 1959, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists.
David Henderson was also one of the people who helped start the Society for General Microbiology. He was a member of its committee for several years. In 1963, he was elected its president. Throughout his career, he wrote many scientific papers.
Henderson's first wife passed away in 1952. The next year, he married Emily Helen Kelly. She was also a bacteriologist and had been his assistant in the USA during the war.
David Willis Wilson Henderson passed away on August 16, 1968.
Awards and Honours
- 1930 – MSc degree by Durham University
- 1934 – PhD by the University of London
- 1940 – DSc degree by the University of London
- 1946 – US Medal of Freedom, Bronze Palm
- 1957 – Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
- 1959 – Fellowship of the Royal Society
