Frederick Banting
Encyclopedia
Sir Frederick Grant Banting, KBE, MC
, FRS
, FRSC (November 14, 1891February 21, 1941) was a Canadian medical scientist, doctor and Nobel laureate
noted as one of the main discoverers of insulin
.
In 1923 Banting and John James Rickard Macleod received the Nobel Prize
in Medicine. Banting shared the award money with his colleague, Dr. Charles Best. , Banting, who received the Nobel Prize at age 32, remains the youngest Nobel laureate in the area of Physiology/Medicine. The Canadian government gave him a lifetime annuity to work on his research. In 1934 he was knighted by King George V
. In 2004, Frederick Banting was voted 4th place on The Greatest Canadian
.
. The youngest of five children of William Thompson Banting and Margaret Grant, he attended public and high schools in Alliston. He attempted to enter the army but was refused due to poor eyesight. He then attended the University of Toronto
in the faculty of divinity
but soon transferred to medicine.
In 1916 he took his M.B. degree and at once joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps, since the outbreak of World War I created a need for greater numbers of medics. In 1918 he was wounded at the battle of Cambrai
. He helped other wounded men for a total of 16 hours, even with his wound, before another doctor made him stop. In 1919 he was awarded the Military Cross
for heroism under fire.
At war's end, Banting returned to Canada and was for a short time a medical practitioner in London, Ontario
. He studied orthopaedic medicine; during the year 1919-1920 he was Resident Surgeon at the Hospital for Sick Children
in Toronto. From 1920 until 1921, while he kept his general practice, he taught orthopaedics and anthropology
part-time at the University of Western Ontario at London. From 1921 until 1922 he was Lecturer in Pharmacology
at the University of Toronto. In 1922 he was awarded an M.D. degree, together with a gold medal.
. The work of Naunyn, Minkowski
, Opie
, Schafer, and others had indicated that diabetes was caused by lack of a protein hormone
secreted by the Islets of Langerhans
in the pancreas. To this hormone Schafer had given the name insulin. It was supposed that insulin controls the metabolism of sugar, so that lack of it results in the accumulation of sugar in the blood and the excretion of excess of sugar in urine. Attempts to supply the missing insulin by feeding patients with fresh pancreas or extracts of it had failed, presumably because the protein insulin had been destroyed by the proteolytic
enzyme
of the pancreas. The problem, therefore, was how to extract insulin from the pancreas before it had been thus destroyed.
While he was considering this problem Banting read an article by Moses Barron. Barron pointed out that when the pancreatic duct
was experimentally closed by ligature
s, the cells of the pancreas which secrete trypsin
degenerate, but the Islets of Langerhans remain intact. This suggested to Banting that ligation of the pancreatic duct would destroy the cells which secrete trypsin but avoid the destruction of insulin. Then, after sufficient time had been allowed for the degeneration of the trypsin-secreting cells, insulin might be extracted from the intact Islets of Langerhans.
Determined to investigate this possibility, Banting discussed it with various people. Among them was J. J. R. Macleod, Professor of Physiology at the University of Toronto. Macleod gave him experimental facilities. Dr. Charles Best, then a medical student, was appointed Banting's assistant. Together Banting and Best started the work which led to the discovery of insulin. However, insulin was already discovered as early as 1916 by Romanian physiologist Nicolae Paulescu
.
In 1922 Banting was appointed Senior Demonstrator in Medicine at the University of Toronto. In 1923 he was elected to the Banting and Best Chair of Medical Research, which had been endowed by the Legislature of the Province of Ontario. He was also appointed Honorary Consulting Physician to the Toronto General Hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Toronto Western Hospital. In the Banting and Best Institute
, Banting researched such problems as silicosis
, cancer, and the mechanism of drowning and how to counteract it. During the Second World War he became greatly interested in the problems of aviators, such as 'blackout' (syncope
).
Besides his M.D., Banting earned the LL.D. degree (Queen's) and the D.Sc. degree (Toronto) in 1923. Prior to the award of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
for 1923 – which he shared with Macleod –he received the Reeve Prize of the University of Toronto (1922). In 1923, the Canadian Parliament granted him a Life Annuity of $7,500. In 1928 Banting gave the Cameron Lecture in Edinburgh
. He was a member of numerous medical academies and societies in Canada and abroad, including the British and American Physiological Societies, and the American Pharmacological Society. He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE) in 1934. In May, 1935 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
As a keen painter, Banting once took part in a painting expedition above the Arctic Circle sponsored by the Government.
Banting married Marion Robertson in 1924; they had one child, William (b. 1928). This marriage ended in a divorce in 1932, and in 1937 Banting married Henrietta Ball.
In 1938 Banting developed an interest in aviation medicine that resulted in his participation with the Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF) in research concerning the physiological problems encountered by pilots operating high-altitude combat aircraft. Banting headed the RCAF's Number 1 Clinical Investigation Unit (CIU), which was housed in a secret facility on the grounds of the former Eglinton Hunt Club
in Toronto.
In February 1941, Banting was killed in an airplane crash in Newfoundland. He was en route to England to conduct operational tests on the Franks flying suit developed by his colleague Wilbur Franks.
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Banting's name is immortalised in the yearly Banting Lectures
, given by an expert in diabetes, and by the creation of the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research
of the University of Toronto
; Banting Memorial High School
in Alliston, ON; Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School
in London
, ON; Sir Frederick Banting Alternative Program Site in Ottawa
, ON; and École Banting Middle School in Coquitlam, BC. Banting House
, his house in London, Ontario, was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1997. The Banting Interpretation Centre in Musgrave Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
is a museum named after him which focuses on the circumstances surrounding the 1941 plane crash which claimed his life. The crater Banting
on the Moon
is also named after his brother.
In 1994 Banting was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
. In 2004, he was nominated as one of the top 10 "Greatest Canadians
" by viewers of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
. When the final votes were counted, Banting finished fourth behind Tommy Douglas
, Terry Fox
and Pierre Trudeau
.
During the voting for "Greatest Canadians
" in late 2003, controversy rose over the future use of the Banting family farm in New Tecumseth which had been left to the Ontario Historical Society by Banting's late nephew, Edward, in 1998. The dispute centred around the future use of the 40 ha (100 acre) property and its buildings. In a year-long negotiation, assisted by a provincially-appointed facilitator, the Town of New Tecumseth offered $1 million to the OHS. The town intended to turn the property over to the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation for preservation of the property and buildings, and the Legacy Foundation planned to erect a Camp for Diabetic Youths. The day after the November 22, 2006 deadline for the OHS to sign the agreement, the OHS announced that it had sold the property for housing development to Solmar Development for more than 2 million. Solmar reported in the press that their deal with the OHS had been arranged five months earlier.
The Town of New Tecumseth announced it would designate the property under the Ontario Heritage Act. This would prevent its commercial development and obligate the owner to maintain it properly. OHS objected. The Ontario Conservation Review Board heard arguments for and against designation in September, 2007 and recommended designation of the entire 100 acre (0.404686 km²) property in October. The Town officially passed the designation by-law on November 12, 2007.
In January, 2007, insulin was named first in a cross-Canada survey by the CBC to identify the 10 Greatest Canadian Inventions.
A painting of his called "St. Tîte des Cap" sold for CDN$30,000 including buyer's premium at a Canadian Art auction in Toronto.
Banting was a relative of William Banting
, the discoverer of the first effective low-carbohydrate diet
used in weight control.
The 1988 television movie Glory Enough for All
depicted the search for insulin by Banting and Best, with R. H. Thomson
starring as Banting. Portrayed by Jason Priestley
, he also appears in the 2006 historical drama film Above and Beyond
before going on board his fatal flight.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, FRS
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"...
, FRSC (November 14, 1891February 21, 1941) was a Canadian medical scientist, doctor and Nobel laureate
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
noted as one of the main discoverers of insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
.
In 1923 Banting and John James Rickard Macleod received the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
in Medicine. Banting shared the award money with his colleague, Dr. Charles Best. , Banting, who received the Nobel Prize at age 32, remains the youngest Nobel laureate in the area of Physiology/Medicine. The Canadian government gave him a lifetime annuity to work on his research. In 1934 he was knighted by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. In 2004, Frederick Banting was voted 4th place on The Greatest Canadian
The Greatest Canadian
Officially launched on April 5, 2004, The Greatest Canadian was a television program series by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to determine who is considered to be the greatest Canadian of all time, at least among those who watched and participated in the program...
.
Early Years
Frederick Banting was born on 14 November 1891, in the downstairs front bedroom of a farm house near Alliston, OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The youngest of five children of William Thompson Banting and Margaret Grant, he attended public and high schools in Alliston. He attempted to enter the army but was refused due to poor eyesight. He then attended 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...
in the faculty of divinity
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
but soon transferred to medicine.
In 1916 he took his M.B. degree and at once joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps, since the outbreak of World War I created a need for greater numbers of medics. In 1918 he was wounded at the battle of Cambrai
Battle of Cambrai (1918)
The Battle of Cambrai was a battle between troops of the British First, Third and Fourth Armies and German Empire forces during the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War. The battle took place in and around the French city of Cambrai, between 8 and 10 October 1918...
. He helped other wounded men for a total of 16 hours, even with his wound, before another doctor made him stop. In 1919 he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for heroism under fire.
At war's end, Banting returned to Canada and was for a short time a medical practitioner in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. He studied orthopaedic medicine; during the year 1919-1920 he was Resident Surgeon at the Hospital for Sick Children
Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
in Toronto. From 1920 until 1921, while he kept his general practice, he taught orthopaedics and anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
part-time at the University of Western Ontario at London. From 1921 until 1922 he was Lecturer in Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
at the University of Toronto. In 1922 he was awarded an M.D. degree, together with a gold medal.
Scientific Studies
Banting became deeply interested in diabetes after reading an article in a medical paper on the pancreasPancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
. The work of Naunyn, Minkowski
Oskar Minkowski
Oskar Minkowski He held a professor at at the University of Breslau and is most famous for his research on diabetes...
, Opie
Eugene Lindsay Opie
Eugene Lindsay Opie, M.D. was an American physician and pathologist who conducted important research on the causes, transmission, and diagnosis of tuberculosis and on immunization against the disease. He served as professor of pathology at several U.S. medical schools, as well as Dean of the...
, Schafer, and others had indicated that diabetes was caused by lack of a protein hormone
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
secreted by the Islets of Langerhans
Islets of Langerhans
The islets of Langerhans are the regions of the pancreas that contain its endocrine cells. Discovered in 1869 by German pathological anatomist Paul Langerhans at the age of 22, the islets of Langerhans constitute approximately 1 to 2% of the mass of the pancreas...
in the pancreas. To this hormone Schafer had given the name insulin. It was supposed that insulin controls the metabolism of sugar, so that lack of it results in the accumulation of sugar in the blood and the excretion of excess of sugar in urine. Attempts to supply the missing insulin by feeding patients with fresh pancreas or extracts of it had failed, presumably because the protein insulin had been destroyed by the proteolytic
Proteolysis
Proteolysis is the directed degradation of proteins by cellular enzymes called proteases or by intramolecular digestion.-Purposes:Proteolysis is used by the cell for several purposes...
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...
of the pancreas. The problem, therefore, was how to extract insulin from the pancreas before it had been thus destroyed.
While he was considering this problem Banting read an article by Moses Barron. Barron pointed out that when the pancreatic duct
Pancreatic duct
The pancreatic duct, or duct of Wirsung , is a duct joining the pancreas to the common bile duct to supply pancreatic juices which aid in digestion provided by the "exocrine pancreas"...
was experimentally closed by ligature
Ligature (medicine)
In surgery or medical procedure, a ligature consists of a piece of thread tied around an anatomical structure, usually a blood vessel or another hollow structure to shut it off. With a blood vessel the surgeon will clamp the vessel perpendicular to the axis of the artery or vein with a hemostat,...
s, the cells of the pancreas which secrete trypsin
Trypsin
Trypsin is a serine protease found in the digestive system of many vertebrates, where it hydrolyses proteins. Trypsin is produced in the pancreas as the inactive proenzyme trypsinogen. Trypsin cleaves peptide chains mainly at the carboxyl side of the amino acids lysine or arginine, except when...
degenerate, but the Islets of Langerhans remain intact. This suggested to Banting that ligation of the pancreatic duct would destroy the cells which secrete trypsin but avoid the destruction of insulin. Then, after sufficient time had been allowed for the degeneration of the trypsin-secreting cells, insulin might be extracted from the intact Islets of Langerhans.
Determined to investigate this possibility, Banting discussed it with various people. Among them was J. J. R. Macleod, Professor of Physiology at the University of Toronto. Macleod gave him experimental facilities. Dr. Charles Best, then a medical student, was appointed Banting's assistant. Together Banting and Best started the work which led to the discovery of insulin. However, insulin was already discovered as early as 1916 by Romanian physiologist Nicolae Paulescu
Nicolae Paulescu
Nicolae Paulescu was a Romanian physiologist, professor of medicine, the discoverer of insulin . The "pancreine" was a crude extract of bovine pancreas in salted water, after which some impurites were removed with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.-Early life and activities:Born in Bucharest,...
.
In 1922 Banting was appointed Senior Demonstrator in Medicine at the University of Toronto. In 1923 he was elected to the Banting and Best Chair of Medical Research, which had been endowed by the Legislature of the Province of Ontario. He was also appointed Honorary Consulting Physician to the Toronto General Hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Toronto Western Hospital. In the Banting and Best Institute
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research is the preeminent Canadian biomedical research institute located on the campus of University of Toronto. The department is named after Drs. Frederick Banting and Charles Best, who discovered insulin and subsequently won a Nobel Prize in medicine....
, Banting researched such problems as silicosis
Silicosis
Silicosis, also known as Potter's rot, is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs...
, cancer, and the mechanism of drowning and how to counteract it. During the Second World War he became greatly interested in the problems of aviators, such as 'blackout' (syncope
Syncope (medicine)
Syncope , the medical term for fainting, is precisely defined as a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery due to global cerebral hypoperfusion that most often results from hypotension.Many forms of syncope are...
).
Besides his M.D., Banting earned the LL.D. degree (Queen's) and the D.Sc. degree (Toronto) in 1923. Prior to the award of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
for 1923 – which he shared with Macleod –he received the Reeve Prize of the University of Toronto (1922). In 1923, the Canadian Parliament granted him a Life Annuity of $7,500. In 1928 Banting gave the Cameron Lecture in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He was a member of numerous medical academies and societies in Canada and abroad, including the British and American Physiological Societies, and the American Pharmacological Society. He was knighted as a 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 1934. In May, 1935 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
As a keen painter, Banting once took part in a painting expedition above the Arctic Circle sponsored by the Government.
Banting married Marion Robertson in 1924; they had one child, William (b. 1928). This marriage ended in a divorce in 1932, and in 1937 Banting married Henrietta Ball.
In 1938 Banting developed an interest in aviation medicine that resulted in his participation with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(RCAF) in research concerning the physiological problems encountered by pilots operating high-altitude combat aircraft. Banting headed the RCAF's Number 1 Clinical Investigation Unit (CIU), which was housed in a secret facility on the grounds of the former Eglinton Hunt Club
Toronto Hunt Club
The Toronto Hunt Club was established in by British Army officers of the Toronto garrison in 1843. It held gymkhana equestrian events at various sites around the city. In 1895 it acquired its first permanent home in a rural area east of the city between Kingston Road and the waterfront...
in Toronto.
In February 1941, Banting was killed in an airplane crash in Newfoundland. He was en route to England to conduct operational tests on the Franks flying suit developed by his colleague Wilbur Franks.
Legacy
Banting Lectures
The Banting Lectures a yearly series of research presentations given by an expert in diabetes. The name of the lecture series refers to Frederick Banting, who was a seminal scientist, doctor and Nobel laureate for the co-discovery of insulin...
, given by an expert in diabetes, and by the creation of the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research is the preeminent Canadian biomedical research institute located on the campus of University of Toronto. The department is named after Drs. Frederick Banting and Charles Best, who discovered insulin and subsequently won a Nobel Prize in medicine....
of 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...
; Banting Memorial High School
Banting Memorial High School
Banting Memorial High School is the only secondary school located in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Simcoe County District School Board and as of 2005 has a student population of approximately 1,800...
in Alliston, ON; Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School
Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School
Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School is a high school located in London, Ontario, Canada. It was officially opened in 1969, and has history of excellence in the arts, in sports and in community service. Banting is recognized for having a strong French Immersion program and a music program...
in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, ON; Sir Frederick Banting Alternative Program Site in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, ON; and École Banting Middle School in Coquitlam, BC. Banting House
Banting House
Known as “The Birthplace of Insulin”, 442 Adelaide St. N. in London, Ontario is the house where Sir Frederick Banting woke up at two o'clock on the morning of October 31, 1920 with the idea that led to the discovery of insulin...
, his house in London, Ontario, was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1997. The Banting Interpretation Centre in Musgrave Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
Musgrave Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
Musgrave Harbour is a Canadian town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.-Geography:Located on the Kittiwake coast of the island of Newfoundland, the closest major centre is the town of Gander.-History:...
is a museum named after him which focuses on the circumstances surrounding the 1941 plane crash which claimed his life. The crater Banting
Banting (crater)
Banting is a small, bowl-shaped lunar impact crater located near the middle of the Mare Serenitatis. The lunar mare in the vicinity is flat and nearly devoid of features of interest....
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is also named after his brother.
In 1994 Banting was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a Canadian charitable organization, founded in 1994, that honours Canadians who have contributed to the understanding of disease and improving the health of people. It has a museum in London, Ontario, and has an annual induction ceremony.-2012:*Terry Fox*John...
. In 2004, he was nominated as one of the top 10 "Greatest Canadians
The Greatest Canadian
Officially launched on April 5, 2004, The Greatest Canadian was a television program series by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to determine who is considered to be the greatest Canadian of all time, at least among those who watched and participated in the program...
" by viewers of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
. When the final votes were counted, Banting finished fourth behind Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
, Terry Fox
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox , was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research...
and Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
.
During the voting for "Greatest Canadians
The Greatest Canadian
Officially launched on April 5, 2004, The Greatest Canadian was a television program series by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to determine who is considered to be the greatest Canadian of all time, at least among those who watched and participated in the program...
" in late 2003, controversy rose over the future use of the Banting family farm in New Tecumseth which had been left to the Ontario Historical Society by Banting's late nephew, Edward, in 1998. The dispute centred around the future use of the 40 ha (100 acre) property and its buildings. In a year-long negotiation, assisted by a provincially-appointed facilitator, the Town of New Tecumseth offered $1 million to the OHS. The town intended to turn the property over to the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation for preservation of the property and buildings, and the Legacy Foundation planned to erect a Camp for Diabetic Youths. The day after the November 22, 2006 deadline for the OHS to sign the agreement, the OHS announced that it had sold the property for housing development to Solmar Development for more than 2 million. Solmar reported in the press that their deal with the OHS had been arranged five months earlier.
The Town of New Tecumseth announced it would designate the property under the Ontario Heritage Act. This would prevent its commercial development and obligate the owner to maintain it properly. OHS objected. The Ontario Conservation Review Board heard arguments for and against designation in September, 2007 and recommended designation of the entire 100 acre (0.404686 km²) property in October. The Town officially passed the designation by-law on November 12, 2007.
In January, 2007, insulin was named first in a cross-Canada survey by the CBC to identify the 10 Greatest Canadian Inventions.
A painting of his called "St. Tîte des Cap" sold for CDN$30,000 including buyer's premium at a Canadian Art auction in Toronto.
Banting was a relative of William Banting
William Banting
William Banting , was a formerly obese English undertaker who was the first to popularise a weight loss diet based on limiting intake of refined and easily digestible carbohydrates. He undertook his dietary changes at the suggestion of Dr...
, the discoverer of the first effective low-carbohydrate diet
Low-carbohydrate diet
Low-carbohydrate diets or low-carb diets are dietary programs that restrict carbohydrate consumption usually for weight control or for the treatment of obesity. Foods high in digestible carbohydrates are limited or replaced with foods containing a higher percentage of proteins and fats...
used in weight control.
The 1988 television movie Glory Enough for All
Glory Enough for All
Glory Enough for All is the 1988 television movie depicting the discovery and isolation of insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Herbert Best. It won the 1989 Gemini award for best miniseries....
depicted the search for insulin by Banting and Best, with R. H. Thomson
R. H. Thomson
Robert Holmes "R. H." Thomson, is a Canadian television, film and stage actor.Thomson was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto, and the National Theatre School. His own play The Lost Boys was staged at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in March 2000 and at...
starring as Banting. Portrayed by Jason Priestley
Jason Priestley
Jason Bradford Priestley is a Canadian-American actor and director. He is best known as the virtuous Brandon Walsh on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role which catapulted him to recognition in the early 1990s....
, he also appears in the 2006 historical drama film Above and Beyond
Above and Beyond (mini series)
Above and Beyond is a four-hour 2006 miniseries aired by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on October 29 and 30. The miniseries is about the Atlantic Ferry Organization, which was tasked with delivering aircraft from North America to Europe in the early years of the Second World War. It...
before going on board his fatal flight.
Honorary degrees
Sir Frederick Banting received honorary degrees from several Universities:- University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
(LL.D) on 30 May 1924 - University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe 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...
in TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
(D.Sc.Doctor of ScienceDoctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
) in 1924 - Queen's UniversityQueen's UniversityQueen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in Kingston, OntarioKingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
(LL.D) in 1924 - University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
(LL.D) in 1924 - Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
(Sc.D.Doctor of ScienceDoctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
) in 1924 - University of the State of New YorkUniversity of the State of New YorkThe University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
(D.Sc.Doctor of ScienceDoctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
) in 1931 - McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
(D.Sc.Doctor of ScienceDoctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
) in 1939
External links
- Banting House National Historic Site
- News Release About Sir Frederick Banting's Memorial Cross
- Lighting of the Flame of Hope at the Banting House National Historic Site in 1989
- Banting's Nobel prize Lecture
- Biography on Nobel prize site
- Ontario Plaques - The Discovery of Insulin
- CBC Digital Archives - Banting, Best, Macleod, Collip: Chasing a Cure for Diabetes
- Famous Canadian Physicians: Sir Frederick Banting at Library and Archives Canada
- World Diabetes Day on Banting's Birthday, November 14
- 1928 A.Y. Jackson and Frederick Banting NWT Historical Timeline, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
- Breakthrough: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insulin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle by Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsberg
- Frederick Banting Papers, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
Further reading
- The Discovery of Insulin by Michael Bliss, University of Chicago Press, 1982, ISBN 0-226-05897-2.
- Banting as an Artist by A.Y. Jackson, Ryerson Press, 1943.
- Discoverer of Insulin - Dr. Frederick G. Banting by I.E. Levine, New York: Julian Messner, 1962.
- Frederick Banting by Margaret Mason Shaw, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1976, ISBN 0-889-02229-1.
- Sir Frederick Banting by Lloyd Stevenson, Ryerson Press, 1946.
- Banting's miracle; the story of the discoverer of insulin by Seale Harris, Lippincott, 1946.
- Elixir by Eric WaltersEric WaltersEric Robert Walters is a Canadian author of children's literature. His novels have been enthusiastically received by children and young adults and critically acclaimed by teachers, reviewers and parents.-Background:...
, Puffin Canada, 2005, ISBN 0-143-01641-5.