David Chilton Phillips
Encyclopedia
David Chilton Phillips, Baron Phillips of Ellesmere, KBE
, FRS (7 March 1924 - 23 February 1999) is considered to be a founding father of the now expanding field of structural biology
and was an influential figure in science and government. Among scientists, he will be remembered as the first person ever to determine in atomic detail the structure of the enzyme
lysozyme
, which he did in the Davy Faraday Research Laboratories of the Royal Institution
in London
in 1965. Lysozyme, which was discovered in 1922 by Alexander Fleming
, is found in tear drops, nasal mucus, gastric secretions and egg white. Lysozyme exhibits some antibacterial activity so that the discovery of its structure and mode of action were key scientific objectives. David Phillips solved the structure of lysozyme and also explained the mechanism of its action in destroying certain bacteria
by a brilliant application of the technique of X-ray crystallography
, a technique to which he had been introduced as a PhD student at the University in Cardiff, and to which he later made major instrumental contributions.
David Chilton Phillips, the son of a tailor and Methodist preacher, was born in Ellesmere, Shropshire
which gave rise to his title Baron Phillips of Ellesmere. He was educated at Oswestry Boy's High School and then at the University College of South Wales and Monmouth where he studied physics
, electrical engineering
, and mathematics
. His degree was interrupted between 1944 and 1947 for services in the Navy as a radar officer on HMS Illustrious. He returned to Cardiff
to complete his degree and subsequently undertook postgraduate studies with Professor Arthur J. C. Wilson, a noted X-ray crystal physicist. After a brief postdoctoral period at the National Research Council in Ottawa (1951–55) he joined the Royal Institution. In 1968 he became the Professor of Molecular Biophysics in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford
where he remained until his retirement in 1985. During that time he became a Fellow of the Royal Society
and then its Biological Secretary from 1976 to 1983.
David was made Knight Bachelor
in 1979, invested as Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE) in 1989, and appointed in 1994 as a Life Peer
as Baron Phillips of Ellesmere. In the House of Lords
, he chaired the select committee on Science and Technology and he is credited with getting Parliament onto the World Wide Web
.
Lord Phillips died of cancer, on 23 February 1999.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRS (7 March 1924 - 23 February 1999) is considered to be a founding father of the now expanding field of structural biology
Structural biology
Structural biology is a branch of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics concerned with the molecular structure of biological macromolecules, especially proteins and nucleic acids, how they acquire the structures they have, and how alterations in their structures affect their function...
and was an influential figure in science and government. Among scientists, he will be remembered as the first person ever to determine in atomic detail the structure of the enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
lysozyme
Lysozyme
Lysozyme, also known as muramidase or N-acetylmuramide glycanhydrolase, are glycoside hydrolases, enzymes that damage bacterial cell walls by catalyzing hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in a peptidoglycan and between...
, which he did in the Davy Faraday Research Laboratories of the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1965. Lysozyme, which was discovered in 1922 by Alexander Fleming
Alexander Fleming
Sir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist. He wrote many articles on bacteriology, immunology, and chemotherapy...
, is found in tear drops, nasal mucus, gastric secretions and egg white. Lysozyme exhibits some antibacterial activity so that the discovery of its structure and mode of action were key scientific objectives. David Phillips solved the structure of lysozyme and also explained the mechanism of its action in destroying certain bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
by a brilliant application of the technique of X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography is a method of determining the arrangement of atoms within a crystal, in which a beam of X-rays strikes a crystal and causes the beam of light to spread into many specific directions. From the angles and intensities of these diffracted beams, a crystallographer can produce a...
, a technique to which he had been introduced as a PhD student at the University in Cardiff, and to which he later made major instrumental contributions.
David Chilton Phillips, the son of a tailor and Methodist preacher, was born in Ellesmere, Shropshire
Ellesmere, Shropshire
Ellesmere is a small market town near Oswestry in north Shropshire, England, notable for its proximity to a number of prominent lakes, the Meres.-History:...
which gave rise to his title Baron Phillips of Ellesmere. He was educated at Oswestry Boy's High School and then at the University College of South Wales and Monmouth where he studied physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, and mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. His degree was interrupted between 1944 and 1947 for services in the Navy as a radar officer on HMS Illustrious. He returned to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
to complete his degree and subsequently undertook postgraduate studies with Professor Arthur J. C. Wilson, a noted X-ray crystal physicist. After a brief postdoctoral period at the National Research Council in Ottawa (1951–55) he joined the Royal Institution. In 1968 he became the Professor of Molecular Biophysics in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
where he remained until his retirement in 1985. During that time he became a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and then its Biological Secretary from 1976 to 1983.
David was made Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1979, invested as Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(KBE) in 1989, and appointed in 1994 as a Life Peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Phillips of Ellesmere. In the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, he chaired the select committee on Science and Technology and he is credited with getting Parliament onto the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
.
Lord Phillips died of cancer, on 23 February 1999.