Samuel Bedson facts for kids

Sir Samuel Phillips Bedson was a famous British scientist. He was born on December 1, 1886, and passed away on May 11, 1969. Sir Samuel was a microbiologist, which means he studied tiny living things like bacteria and viruses. He was also a professor at the University of London.

Early Life and Education

Samuel Phillips Bedson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. His father, Peter Phillip Bedson, was a chemistry professor. Samuel went to Abbotsholme School in Derbyshire.

After school, he studied at Armstrong College in Newcastle upon Tyne. He earned his first science degree in 1907. Later, in 1912, he earned medical degrees from the University of Durham. He then traveled to Paris to study microbiology at the famous Pasteur Institute.

His Scientific Career

Sir Samuel Bedson started his work studying blood platelets. These are tiny parts of your blood that help it clot. He worked at the Lister Institute in London.

When World War I began, he joined the army. He was a soldier in the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was hurt during the Gallipoli campaign and sent home. In 1916, he worked in France as a pathologist. A pathologist studies diseases.

After the war, he went back to the Lister Institute. He continued his research on blood platelets.

Studying Viruses

In 1924, Sir Samuel started studying foot-and-mouth disease. This is a disease that affects animals. In 1926, he began studying viruses at London Hospital.

His important work included studying psittacosis in 1929. Psittacosis is a disease that birds can get. It can also spread to humans. Because of his research, the tiny living things that cause psittacosis were named Bedsonia. This name was used from the 1930s to the 1960s.

In 1934, he became a professor. He held the Goldsmiths Company’s Chair of Bacteriology. This was at the London Hospital Medical College. He retired from this role in 1952.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Samuel Bedson was recognized for his important work. In 1935, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in Britain. He was also made a knight in 1956. This means he received the title "Sir."

Later Life

Sir Samuel Bedson married Dorothea Annie Hoffert. They had three sons together.

Even after he retired, he continued his research. He ran a special unit that studied viruses. This unit was part of the British Empire Cancer Campaign. He worked there until 1962.