William Roberts (physician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir William Roberts FRS
Born	(1830-03-18)18 March 1830 Bodedern, Anglesey
Died	16 April 1899(1899-04-16) (aged 69) London, UK
Nationality	British
Occupation	Consulting Physician
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Johnson
Awards	Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh (1880)

Sir William Roberts (born March 18, 1830 – died April 16, 1899) was an important British doctor from Manchester, England. He was known for his work on kidney diseases and for studying how bacteria dissolve. This work was an early step towards understanding how substances like penicillin could fight infections.

About Sir William Roberts

William Roberts was born on March 18, 1830, in a place called Bodedern on the Isle of Anglesey. His parents were David and Sarah Roberts. He went to Mill Hill Mill School and then studied at University College, London. He finished his first degree there in 1851.

After becoming a doctor, he worked as a surgeon at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. He also became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. Later, he became a Professor of Medicine at Owens College, Manchester, teaching there from 1863 to 1883. He was especially interested in studying kidney diseases.

In 1877, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group for scientists. He was also made a knight in 1885, which means he could use "Sir" before his name.

Sir William Roberts passed away in London on April 16, 1899. He was buried in Llanymawddwy, Merionethshire.

Early Discoveries About Penicillin

Between 1870 and 1874, Sir William Roberts made an interesting discovery. He was studying bacteria in his lab. He noticed that a type of mold, called Penicillium glaucum, could make bacteria dissolve. This mold is very similar to Penicillium notatum, which is the mold Alexander Fleming later used to discover penicillin.

For his important work, Roberts received the Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh. This award recognized his contributions to understanding how to treat diseases. His research helped pave the way for future discoveries in medicine, including the development of antibiotics.

See also

List of Welsh medical pioneers