Edward Calvin Kendall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Calvin Kendall
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Kendall in 1950
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| Born | March 8, 1886 |
| Died | May 4, 1972 (aged 86) Princeton, New Jersey, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Known for | Isolation of thyroxine Discovery of cortisone |
| Awards | Lasker Award (1949) Passano Foundation (1950) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1950) Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh (1951) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry |
| Institutions | Parke-Davis St. Luke's Hospital Mayo Clinic Princeton University |
Edward Calvin Kendall (March 8, 1886 – May 4, 1972) was an American chemist. He was a scientist who studied the chemicals and processes in living things. In 1950, Kendall won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Swiss chemist Tadeusz Reichstein and Mayo Clinic doctor Philip Showalter Hench. They won for their important work on hormones from the adrenal gland.
Kendall also found and separated thyroxine, a hormone from the thyroid gland. He also helped a team find and understand the chemical structure of glutathione. At the time of his Nobel Prize, Kendall was a biochemist at the Mayo Foundation. He studied at Columbia University. After retiring from Mayo, he taught at Princeton University until he passed away. An elementary school in Norwalk is named after him.
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Early Life and School
Edward Calvin Kendall was born in South Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1886. He went to Columbia University for his college education. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science, in 1908. He then continued his studies, getting a Master of Science degree in Chemistry in 1909. Finally, he earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1910.
Amazing Discoveries
After finishing his studies, Kendall started working as a researcher. His first job was at Parke, Davis and Company. There, he worked on finding a specific hormone from the thyroid gland. He continued this important research at St. Luke's Hospital in New York until 1914.
In 1914, he became the Head of the Biochemistry Section at the Mayo Foundation. The next year, he was made the Director of the Division of Biochemistry.
Finding Thyroxine
One of Kendall's most famous discoveries was separating thyroxine. This is a key hormone made by the thyroid gland in your neck. Even though it was a huge step, it wasn't the work he received the most awards for.
The Story of Cortisone
Kendall also worked with his team to separate glutathione. They also figured out its chemical structure. He also found several important chemicals called steroids from the outer part of the adrenal gland. One of these was first called Compound E.
Working with Mayo Clinic doctor Philip Showalter Hench, Compound E was used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. This is a condition that causes pain and swelling in joints. Later, this compound was given the name cortisone.
Winning the Nobel Prize
In 1950, Kendall, along with Dr. Hench and Swiss chemist Tadeus Reichstein, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. They received the award for their discoveries about hormones from the adrenal gland. Their work helped us understand how these hormones are made and what they do in the body.
Kendall's Nobel speech was about the basic research that led to his award. It was titled "The Development of Cortisone As a Therapeutic Agent." Kendall and Hench are the only Nobel winners linked to the Mayo Clinic.
Kendall's career at Mayo Clinic ended in 1951 when he reached the age to retire. He then moved to Princeton University. There, he was a visiting professor in the Biochemistry Department. He stayed connected with Princeton until he passed away in 1972. Besides the Nobel Prize, Kendall received other major awards. These included the Lasker Award and the Passano Foundation Award. He also received honorary doctorates from several universities.
His Family
Edward Kendall married Rebecca Kennedy in 1915. They had four children together. He passed away in 1972 in Princeton, New Jersey. His wife passed away the following year in 1973.
See also
In Spanish: Edward Calvin Kendall para niños
