Frank George Young
Encyclopedia
Sir Frank George Young FRS (25 March 1908 - 20 September 1988) was a distinguished biochemist
, noted for his work on diabetes, and the first Master of Darwin College, Cambridge
.
and educated at Alleyn's School
, Dulwich
and University College, London where he graduated in chemistry
and physics
in 1929. After graduating, he remained at UCL to do postgraduate research in the field of biochemistry.
and the University of Toronto
. At the age of 34 he was awarded his first chair
when appointed in 1942 as the Professor of Biochemistry at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, University of London
. Thereafter his advancement was rapid, becoming professor of biochemistry at UCL in 1945 and then, in 1949, being elected as the third Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry
at Cambridge University, a post he was to hold for the ensuing 26 years. His Cambridge appointment coincided with his election in March 1949 to Fellowship of the Royal Society.
At Cambridge Young became a Fellow
of Trinity Hall
until in 1964 he was appointed as the first Master of the new Darwin College
, a position he held until 1976.
Young served on numerous national and international bodies including the Medical Research Council
(1950 - 1954), the Executive Council of the Ciba Foundation (1954 - 1977), the British Nutrition Foundation
, of which he was a co-founder in 1967 and served as President from 1970 - 1976).
He also served on various government advisory bodies including the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (1957 - 1980), the Advisory Committee on the Irradiation of Food, the Royal Commission on Medical Education (1965 - 1968), the Council of the International Union of Biochemistry (1961 - 1972) and the Executive Board of the International Council of Scientific Unions (1970- 1974).
His interests in diabetes were reflected in his service as a Vice-President of the British Diabetic Association from 1948, President of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes from 1965 to 1968, and President of the International Diabetes Federation from 1970 to 1973.
He was knighted for his services to biochemistry in 1976.
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:...
, noted for his work on diabetes, and the first Master of Darwin College, Cambridge
Darwin College, Cambridge
Darwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin...
.
Early life
Young was born in LondonLondon
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...
and educated at Alleyn's School
Alleyn's School
Alleyn's School is an independent, fee-paying co-educational day school situated in Dulwich, south London, England. It is a registered charity and was originally part of the historic Alleyn's College of God's Gift charitable foundation, which also included James Allen's Girls' School , Dulwich...
, Dulwich
Dulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
and University College, London where he graduated in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and 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...
in 1929. After graduating, he remained at UCL to do postgraduate research in the field of biochemistry.
Academic career
As a research fellow Young studied diabetes at the University of AberdeenUniversity of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. At the age of 34 he was awarded his first chair
Chair (academic department)
Chair is an equivalent of an academic department in Poland, a division of a university or school faculty devoted to a particular academic discipline...
when appointed in 1942 as the Professor of Biochemistry at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. Thereafter his advancement was rapid, becoming professor of biochemistry at UCL in 1945 and then, in 1949, being elected as the third Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry
Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry
The Sir William Dunn Professorship of Biochemistry is the senior professorship in biochemistry at the University of Cambridge. The position was established in 1914 by the trustees of the will of Sir William Dunn, banker, merchant and philanthropist....
at Cambridge University, a post he was to hold for the ensuing 26 years. His Cambridge appointment coincided with his election in March 1949 to Fellowship of the Royal Society.
At Cambridge Young became a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
until in 1964 he was appointed as the first Master of the new Darwin College
Darwin College, Cambridge
Darwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin...
, a position he held until 1976.
Young served on numerous national and international bodies including the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
(1950 - 1954), the Executive Council of the Ciba Foundation (1954 - 1977), the British Nutrition Foundation
British Nutrition Foundation
The British Nutrition Foundation is a British registered charity.-Aims:According to its entry in the Charity Commission's register, the aims of the British Nutrition Foundation are:...
, of which he was a co-founder in 1967 and served as President from 1970 - 1976).
He also served on various government advisory bodies including the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (1957 - 1980), the Advisory Committee on the Irradiation of Food, the Royal Commission on Medical Education (1965 - 1968), the Council of the International Union of Biochemistry (1961 - 1972) and the Executive Board of the International Council of Scientific Unions (1970- 1974).
His interests in diabetes were reflected in his service as a Vice-President of the British Diabetic Association from 1948, President of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes from 1965 to 1968, and President of the International Diabetes Federation from 1970 to 1973.
He was knighted for his services to biochemistry in 1976.