Alexander Thomas Cameron
Encyclopedia
Alexander Thomas Cameron (1882 – 25 September 1947) was a British-born Canadian biochemist
. He was best known as Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Manitoba
, and as the author of numerous popular biochemistry textbooks, including Textbook of Biochemistry
.
parents. His early education took place in Swindon
. Cameron graduated from the University of Edinburgh
with a Master of Arts
in 1904, and a Bachelor of Science
in 1906. His first published paper appeared in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1905, and concerned the crystallisation of potassium hydrogen succinate.
Cameron was awarded an 1851 Exhibition Scholarship in 1906, and spent the next two years studying radiochemistry
at University College, London, under Sir William Ramsay. He subsequently spent a year at the Technical High School (or Polytechnic Institute) in Karlsruhe, Germany, under Fritz Haber
.
In 1909, Cameron was appointed Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Manitoba
in Winnipeg, Canada. Working under Professor Swale Vincent
, Cameron fostered an interest in endocrinology
, researching the distribution of iodine
in living tissues
. In 1923, the department of physiology was branched to include a separate biochemistry department, for which Cameron was appointed Professor.
Apart from a summer semester spent at the University of Heidelberg, under Albrecht Kossel
, and three years as Captain, R.A.M.C., with the British Expeditionary Force in France
during World War I
, Cameron spent the remainder of his career at the University of Manitoba. His publications on the biochemistry of iodine earned him a D.Sc. from the University of Edinburgh in 1925.
In 1928, Cameron published Textbook of Biochemistry
, which became a standard in its field. By 1948, the textbook had gone through six editions, in addition to one Chinese and two Spanish editions. His other widely used textbooks included Practical Biochemistry (1930, with Frank D. White), Biochemistry of Medicine (1933, with C.R. Gilmour), and Recent Advances in Endocrinology (1933).
In addition to his academic duties, Cameron also served as Chairman of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada from 1934–1947, a role for which he was awarded a C.M.G.
in 1946. At various stages of his career, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
, the President of the Canadian Institute of Chemistry, an original member of the Biochemical Society
, and Secretary for the Scientific Club of Winnipeg.
Following a long illness, Alexander Thomas Cameron died on September 25, 1947, either at his residence in Winnipeg or at Winnipeg General Hospital
. He was survived by his wife, his son Alistair, and his daughter Janet.
, a pursuit which "gave limitless scope for his methodical ways and zest for minutiæ."
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
. He was best known as Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, and as the author of numerous popular biochemistry textbooks, including Textbook of Biochemistry
Textbook of Biochemistry
Textbook of Biochemistry, first published in 1928, is scientific textbook authored by Alexander Thomas Cameron. The textbook became a standard of its field, and, by 1948, had gone through six editions, in addition to one Chinese and two Spanish editions....
.
Biography
Alexander Thomas Cameron was born in 1882 in London, England, to ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
parents. His early education took place in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
. Cameron graduated from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1904, and a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1906. His first published paper appeared in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1905, and concerned the crystallisation of potassium hydrogen succinate.
Cameron was awarded an 1851 Exhibition Scholarship in 1906, and spent the next two years studying radiochemistry
Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry is the chemistry of radioactive materials, where radioactive isotopes of elements are used to study the properties and chemical reactions of non-radioactive isotopes...
at University College, London, under Sir William Ramsay. He subsequently spent a year at the Technical High School (or Polytechnic Institute) in Karlsruhe, Germany, under Fritz Haber
Fritz Haber
Fritz Haber was a German chemist, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918 for his development for synthesizing ammonia, important for fertilizers and explosives. Haber, along with Max Born, proposed the Born–Haber cycle as a method for evaluating the lattice energy of an ionic solid...
.
In 1909, Cameron was appointed Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
in Winnipeg, Canada. Working under Professor Swale Vincent
Swale Vincent
Thomas Swale Vincent was a British physiologist.-Early years:Thomas Swale Vincent was the son of J. Vincent and Margaret Swale. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in Birmingham, and subsequently studied at Mason College...
, Cameron fostered an interest in endocrinology
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
, researching the distribution of iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
in living tissues
Tissue (biology)
Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
. In 1923, the department of physiology was branched to include a separate biochemistry department, for which Cameron was appointed Professor.
Apart from a summer semester spent at the University of Heidelberg, under Albrecht Kossel
Albrecht Kossel
Ludwig Karl Martin Leonhard Albrecht Kossel was a German biochemist and pioneer in the study of genetics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1910 for his work in determining the chemical composition of nucleic acids, the genetic substance of biological cells.Kossel...
, and three years as Captain, R.A.M.C., with the British Expeditionary Force in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Cameron spent the remainder of his career at the University of Manitoba. His publications on the biochemistry of iodine earned him a D.Sc. from the University of Edinburgh in 1925.
In 1928, Cameron published Textbook of Biochemistry
Textbook of Biochemistry
Textbook of Biochemistry, first published in 1928, is scientific textbook authored by Alexander Thomas Cameron. The textbook became a standard of its field, and, by 1948, had gone through six editions, in addition to one Chinese and two Spanish editions....
, which became a standard in its field. By 1948, the textbook had gone through six editions, in addition to one Chinese and two Spanish editions. His other widely used textbooks included Practical Biochemistry (1930, with Frank D. White), Biochemistry of Medicine (1933, with C.R. Gilmour), and Recent Advances in Endocrinology (1933).
In addition to his academic duties, Cameron also served as Chairman of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada from 1934–1947, a role for which he was awarded a C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1946. At various stages of his career, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
, the President of the Canadian Institute of Chemistry, an original member of the Biochemical Society
Biochemical Society
The Biochemical Society is a learned society in the United Kingdom in the field of biochemistry, including all the cellular and molecular biosciences.-Structure:...
, and Secretary for the Scientific Club of Winnipeg.
Following a long illness, Alexander Thomas Cameron died on September 25, 1947, either at his residence in Winnipeg or at Winnipeg General Hospital
Winnipeg General Hospital
Winnipeg General Hospital was founded in 1872 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was built on the estate of Andrew McDermot. The driving force behind the hospital was McDermott's son-in-law Andrew Bannatyne....
. He was survived by his wife, his son Alistair, and his daughter Janet.
Personal life
As its Secretary, Cameron dedicated much of his time to the Scientific Club of Winnipeg. Cameron was a fluent reader of English, French and German, and enjoyed reading literature. His favourite hobby was stamp collectingStamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
, a pursuit which "gave limitless scope for his methodical ways and zest for minutiæ."