Frederick Banting

Sir Frederick Grant Banting

1891–1941

Banting is best known for the discovery of insulin. He developed an interest in diabetes research at the University of Toronto's Medical School.

In 1921, Banting and his assistant Charles Best successfully isolated insulin from the pancreas of a dog. This discovery revolutionized the treatment of diabetes and earned them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923.

Banting continued to work on diabetes research throughout his career. He was knighted, by King George V in 1934, for his contributions to science.

Banting suffered a heart attack while on vacation and died on February 21, 1941.

People of Science - Brief biographies of the men and women who have had a major impact on the development of science