Rickard Christophers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rickard Christophers
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| Born |
Samuel Rickard Christophers
27 November 1873 |
| Died | 19 February 1978 (aged 104) |
| Citizenship | British |
| Awards | Manson Medal (1944) Buchanan Medal (1952) Fellow of the Royal Society |
Sir Samuel Rickard Christophers (born November 27, 1873 – died February 19, 1978) was a very important British scientist. He studied tiny living things called protozoa and insects, especially mosquitoes. He spent much of his life learning about mosquitoes and how they spread diseases like malaria.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Samuel Rickard Christophers was born in Liverpool, England. He grew up there with his parents, Samuel Hunt Christophers and Mary Selina Christophers.
He went to the Liverpool Institute for his schooling. Later, he studied at the University of Liverpool. He worked hard and became a doctor in 1896.
A Life Studying Mosquitoes
After finishing his studies, Christophers began his amazing career. He traveled to many places to learn about diseases.
Early Expeditions
In 1897, he joined an expedition to the Amazon rainforest. The next year, in 1898, he went to Italy. He was part of a special group called the Malaria Commission. This group studied malaria, a serious disease spread by mosquitoes. He also traveled to Africa to learn more about malaria there.
In 1901, the Malaria Commission moved its work to India. This was a very important step in his career.
Fighting Malaria in India
Christophers returned to England in 1902. Soon after, he joined the Indian Medical Service as a Lieutenant. He moved back to India in 1904.
In 1910, he became the first Director of the Central Malaria Bureau. This was a big job! He helped organize training and research to fight malaria all over India. During World War I, he worked on anti-malaria duties in Iraq.
After the war, in 1919, he went back to India again. He became the Director of the Central Research Institute in Kasauli. This institute was located in the beautiful foothills of the Himalayas.
Later Career and Recognition
Sir Rickard Christophers was also an honorary doctor for King George V. He served the King from 1927 to 1930.
He received several important awards for his work. He was given the CIE in 1915. He also received the OBE in 1918. In 1931, he was knighted, which means he was given the title "Sir."
He retired from the Indian Medical Service in 1930 as a Colonel. But he didn't stop working! From 1932 to 1938, he joined the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. There, he became a Professor of Malaria Studies at the University of London. He continued his important research on malaria.
Important Discoveries and Awards
Sir Rickard Christophers was a true expert in tropical diseases. He spent much of his life studying malaria.
Research on Mosquitoes
He did a lot of research on the Anopheles mosquito. This specific type of mosquito is known to spread malaria. His work helped scientists understand how the disease is passed from mosquitoes to humans.
He also helped classify and name other tiny living things called parasites. This is called taxonomy.
Major Awards
In May 1926, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
He also led the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene as its president from 1939 to 1943.
In 1944, he received the Manson Medal. This award recognized his big contributions to tropical medicine and hygiene.
His amazing research on the Anopheles mosquito earned him another special award. In 1952, he received the Buchanan Medal from the Royal Society. This medal is given for "outstanding research."
Personal Life
Sir Rickard Christophers was known for being a kind and modest person. Sir Philip Manson-Bahr, another scientist, described him in 1956. He said Christophers had a "modest bearing" and a "cheerful giggle." He was seen as a "friend, philosopher and mentor" to young scientists.
He married Elise Emma Sherman in London in September 1902. Elise's father owned a coffee farm in India. They had two children. Their daughter, Elise Iseult, was born in June 1903 in Allahabad, India. Their son, Samuel Vagn, was born in December 1904 in Madras. Lady Christophers passed away in England in 1962.
Sir Rickard Christophers lived a very long life. He died in Broadstone, Dorset, when he was 104 years old.
Publications
Sir Rickard Christophers wrote many scientific papers and books. These helped share his important discoveries with other scientists.
- He wrote about Anopheles mosquitoes in the Middle East in 1920.
- He also wrote about malaria in Mesopotamia in 1921 with another scientist, H.E. Shortt.
- One of his most famous works was a book about flies called The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. This book was published in 1933.
