Sir Lauder Brunton, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Lauder Brunton, 1st Baronet FRS (14 March 1844 – 16 September 1916) was a Scottish physician who is most-closely associated with the use of amyl nitrite
to treat angina pectoris.
in southeastern Scotland
, the son of James Brunton and his wife Agnes (née Stenhouse). He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh
, beginning research into pharmacology while still a student there, and receiving a gold medal for his 1866 thesis on digitalis
. Following additional work in Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany, Brunton returned to University College, London, and while there he was selected for a position at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
Brunton's clinical use of amyl nitrite
to treat angina was inspired by earlier work with the same reagent by Arthur Gamgee
and Benjamin Ward Richardson
. Brunton reasoned that the pain and discomfort of angina could be reduced by administering amyl nitrite to open the coronary arteries of patients. In 1874, Brunton was made a Fellow of the Royal Society. He delivered the Goulstonian Lecture in 1877 on "Pharmacology and Therapeutics" and the Croonian Lecture
in 1889 on "The Chemical structure of Physiological Action", both to the Royal College of Physicians
.
He was knighted in 1900 and made a baronet
in 1908.
Brunton married Louisa Jane, daughter of the Venerable Edward Adderley Stopford, Archdeacon
of Meath, in 1879. She died in 1909. Brunton died in London
in September 1916, aged 72, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery
. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Stopford.
Amyl nitrite
Amyl nitrite is the chemical compound with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrito functional group. The alkyl group is unreactive and the chemical and biological properties are mainly due to the nitrite group...
to treat angina pectoris.
Life and work
Brunton was born in RoxburghRoxburgh
Roxburgh , also known as Rosbroch, is a village, civil parish and now-destroyed royal burgh. It was an important trading burgh in High Medieval to early modern Scotland...
in southeastern Scotland
Scotland
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...
, the son of James Brunton and his wife Agnes (née Stenhouse). He studied medicine at 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...
, beginning research into pharmacology while still a student there, and receiving a gold medal for his 1866 thesis on digitalis
Digitalis
Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials that are commonly called foxgloves. This genus was traditionally placed in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, but recent reviews of phylogenetic research have placed it in the much enlarged family...
. Following additional work in Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany, Brunton returned to University College, London, and while there he was selected for a position at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
Brunton's clinical use of amyl nitrite
Amyl nitrite
Amyl nitrite is the chemical compound with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrito functional group. The alkyl group is unreactive and the chemical and biological properties are mainly due to the nitrite group...
to treat angina was inspired by earlier work with the same reagent by Arthur Gamgee
Arthur Gamgee
Arthur Gamgee FRS was a British biochemist.Arthur Gamgee was the son of Joseph Gamgee, an Edinburgh veterinarian, and his wife Mary Ann West. He was born in Florence, Italy, where his father had a practice, but his family moved back to England when he was fourteen years old...
and Benjamin Ward Richardson
Benjamin Ward Richardson
Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson was an eminent British physician, anaesthetist, physiologist, sanitarian, and a prolific writer on medical history...
. Brunton reasoned that the pain and discomfort of angina could be reduced by administering amyl nitrite to open the coronary arteries of patients. In 1874, Brunton was made a Fellow of the Royal Society. He delivered the Goulstonian Lecture in 1877 on "Pharmacology and Therapeutics" and the Croonian Lecture
Croonian Lecture
The Croonian Lectures are prestigious lectureships given at the invitation of the Royal Society and the Royal College of Physicians.Among the papers of William Croone at his death in 1684, was a plan to endow one lectureship at both the Royal Society and the Royal College of Physicians...
in 1889 on "The Chemical structure of Physiological Action", both to the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
.
He was knighted in 1900 and made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1908.
Brunton married Louisa Jane, daughter of the Venerable Edward Adderley Stopford, Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Meath, in 1879. She died in 1909. Brunton died 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 September 1916, aged 72, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Stopford.