Emmanuel Amoroso facts for kids

Emmanuel Ciprian Amoroso (1901–1982) was a brilliant scientist from Trinidad and Tobago. He studied how living things reproduce and grow, especially focusing on the placenta. The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy.

Amoroso first studied medicine in Ireland in the 1920s. He then moved to Britain and spent the rest of his life there. In 1957, he became the first person from the West Indies to be chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists. He also became a Fellow of four important Royal Colleges, which shows how respected he was in different medical fields.

Early Life and Schooling

Emmanuel Ciprian Amoroso was born on September 16, 1901. His birthplace was Woodbrook, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He was one of 12 children in a large family.

His father, Thomas Amoroso, was a bookkeeper who later owned cocoa farms. His mother, Juliana Centeno, had Spanish roots from Venezuela. Emmanuel started school at St. Thomas' Preparatory School. Then he went to Saint Mary's College in 1913.

In 1917, he did very well in the Junior Cambridge Certificate exam. However, he did not win a scholarship. He had to leave school early because he lost some of his eyesight. This happened after he got typhoid fever. After his sight partly came back, he taught for a short time at Saint Mary's College.

In 1922, when he was 21, Amoroso moved to Dublin, Ireland. He enrolled at University College Dublin (UCD) to study medicine. At first, he supported himself by selling newspapers.

At UCD, he won many student awards and scholarships. He earned prizes in subjects like botany, zoology, chemistry, and physics. He also excelled in anatomy, physiology, and medicine. In 1926, he earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree with honors in anatomy. In 1929, he graduated with top honors in medicine. He even achieved the highest marks ever in the final medical exam.

A Career in Science

In December 1929, Amoroso received a scholarship. This allowed him to do research on how nerves develop in pigs. He used this scholarship to study in Germany for a year. He learned German and published his first scientific paper in that language. He was a talented linguist and could speak six languages. His German skills helped him later in his work on the placenta. Much early research on this topic was done by German scientists.

In 1933, Amoroso moved to London. He worked at University College London as a demonstrator. He taught about how living things develop and the study of tissues. In 1934, he earned his PhD for his work on how the reproductive and urinary systems develop in rabbits.

He then joined the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in October 1934. He was a senior assistant for the study of tissues and development. As the first staff member of color, he faced some challenges from certain colleagues. In 1935, he became a lecturer in these subjects at the RVC.

During World War II, the Royal Veterinary College moved. It went to the campus of the University of Reading. During this time, Amoroso worked with other scientists. They studied how animals reproduce. In 1946, he helped start the Society for Endocrinology. This group studies hormones. He later became its chairman.

In 1947, he became a fellow of the Zoological Society of London. The next year, he became a professor of physiology at the Royal Veterinary College. In 1957, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This was a huge achievement, as he was the first person from the West Indies to receive this honor. After retiring from the Royal Veterinary College in 1968, he became a professor emeritus. This title is given to retired professors who are highly respected.

After leaving London, he moved to Cambridge. In 1969, he became a visiting scientist. He worked at the Institute of Animal Physiology. In the 1970s, he gave many lectures around the world. He was a visiting professor in countries like Australia, Canada, and the US.

Special Awards and Honors

Amoroso received many awards and honors throughout his life.

• In 1957, he was elected a FRS.
• He became a Fellow of several Royal Colleges:

* Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1960. * Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1965. * Royal College of Physicians of London in 1966. * Royal College of Pathologists in 1973.

• In 1969, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for his important work in veterinary physiology.
• In 1971, the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, honored him. They named him Professor Emeritus and gave him an honorary Doctor of Science degree. This was to recognize his research and contributions to medicine.
• He also received many other honorary doctorates. These were from universities in Ireland, Chile, Illinois, Nottingham, and Guelph.
• In 1977, the government of Trinidad and Tobago gave him the Trinity Cross. This was the highest national honor in his home country.

He also received other special medals. These included the Mary Marshall medal and the Carl Hartman medal. In 1981, on his 80th birthday, he was given the Dale Medal.

Personal Life and Passing

Amoroso was known to everyone as "Amo." People described him as someone who always added a touch of class to everything he did. He often wore a bow tie and a small red rose. He was also known for enjoying a fine cigar. He was a great public speaker and had a wonderful sense of humor.

Emmanuel Ciprian Amoroso passed away on October 30, 1982, at the age of 81. He had been ill with heart disease for a year. Memorial services were held for him in England.

Legacy

Professor Amoroso's work continues to be remembered.

• The Amoroso Award was created in his memory. It is given to people who make great contributions to small animal studies.
• The Amoroso Lecture was started in 1984. It was a special talk given each year in his honor until 2004.
• The Emmanuel Ciprian Amoroso Award for Medical Sciences is another honor. It is given by Trinidad's National Institute for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST).

His scientific papers are kept at the Wellcome Library.