Life History

William Bayliss (1860-1924) was a British physiologist and pharmacologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of the digestive system and the function of hormones.

Biography of William Bayliss and Discovery

William Bayliss Birth

William Bayliss was born on May 2, 1860, in Wednesbury, which is a town in the West Midlands region of England, United Kingdom.

William Bayliss Accomplishments

William Bayliss made several significant accomplishments throughout his career as a physiologist and pharmacologist

Discovery of the hormone secretin In 1902, Bayliss and his colleague Ernest Starling discovered the hormone secretin, which stimulates the pancreas to release digestive enzymes. This discovery was a major breakthrough in understanding the digestive system 

Studies on muscle contraction Bayliss also conducted extensive studies on muscle contraction and developed the "Bayliss Effect" hypothesis, which suggested that muscle contractions are caused by the accumulation of lactic acid and carbon dioxide in the muscle tissue.

Contributions to the study of blood pressure Bayliss conducted experiments on the regulation of blood pressure and was the first to suggest that the hormone adrenaline (epinephrine) plays a role in increasing blood pressure.

Advancements in pharmacology Bayliss also made several contributions to the field of pharmacology, including his research on the physiological effects of drugs such as adrenaline and morphine.

Studies on blood pressure regulation Bayliss conducted studies on the regulation of blood pressure, including the role of the sympathetic nervous system and the effects of drugs such as nicotine and atropine.

Advocacy for animal welfare In addition to his scientific work, Bayliss was a strong advocate for the ethical treatment of animals in scientific research and helped to establish the Research Defense Society (now the Research Animals Department of the RSPCA) in 1903.

Bayliss's accomplishments in the fields of physiology, pharmacology, and animal welfare have had a lasting impact on the scientific community and continue to be studied and celebrated today.

William Bayliss Family Background

William Bayliss's father name John Bayliss and Mother name Sarah.

William Bayliss had two brothers and two sisters, But their names are not mentioned anywhere

William Bayliss's father John Bayliss, Based on his occupation as a grocer, it is likely that he was a small business owner or worked as a shopkeeper. However, without further information, it is difficult to provide a more detailed background on John Bayliss.

Similar to William Bayliss's father, there is limited information available about his mother Sarah's background. It is likely that she was a homemaker who supported her husband in running their family's grocery business and raising their children. However, without further information, it is difficult to provide a more detailed background on Sarah Bayliss. [Agnes Arber Learn More]

William Bayliss Education

William Bayliss received a formal education in science, which provided a foundation for his career as a physiologist and pharmacologist.

King Edward's School Bayliss attended King Edward's School in Birmingham, which was a prestigious school known for its emphasis on classical education.

University College London Bayliss studied at University College London, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1884 and a Doctor of Science degree in 1888. During his time at UCL, he was a student of the famous physiologist and neurologist, Sir Victor Horsley.

Post-Doctoral Research After completing his doctoral degree, Bayliss spent several years doing post-doctoral research in Europe, including at the universities of Heidelberg and Leipzig in Germany.

Throughout his career, Bayliss also traveled to other countries to study and collaborate with other scientists, including Germany, Italy, and the United States.

 Bayliss returned to England in 1891 to take up a lectureship at University College London, where he taught physiology and pharmacology. He eventually became a professor of general physiology and pharmacology in 1912.

Bayliss's education and teaching experiences provided him with a strong scientific foundation and enabled him to make significant contributions to the fields of physiology and pharmacology.

William Bayliss Career

William Bayliss had a distinguished career as a physiologist and pharmacologist, during which he made many important contributions to the understanding of human physiology and biochemistry.

After earning his doctorate in science, Bayliss worked as a lecturer and researcher at University College London (UCL), where he investigated a wide range of topics related to human physiology and pharmacology.

In 1899, Bayliss and his research partner, Ernest Starling, discovered a hormone called secretin, which regulates the secretion of pancreatic juice into the small intestine. This discovery was a major breakthrough in the understanding of human digestion.

In the early 1900s, Bayliss and Starling also developed the Bayliss-Starling reflex, which explains how the small intestine and colon control their own blood supply and motility.

Bayliss was a prolific researcher who published many papers on a wide range of topics, including the physiology of the heart, the effects of caffeine on the body, and the role of hormones in metabolism.

In addition to his research, Bayliss was also a skilled teacher and mentor, and many of his students went on to become leaders in the field of physiology and pharmacology.

Bayliss was recognized for his contributions to science with numerous awards and honors, including election to the Royal Society and the award of the Royal Society's Royal Medal in 1924.

Bayliss continued to work at UCL until his retirement in 1929, after which he remained active in scientific circles until his death in 1924.

William Bayliss's career was marked by a dedication to scientific research, a commitment to teaching and mentorship, and a series of groundbreaking discoveries that transformed the field of physiology and pharmacology. [Virginia Apgar Learn More]

William Bayliss Awards

Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) (1903)

Royal Medal from the Royal Society (1924)

Croonian Lectureship from the Royal Society (1902)

Murchison Medal from the Geological Society of London (1919)

Cameron Prize from the University of Edinburgh (1921)

Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Oxford (1922)

Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Manchester (1923)

Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Birmingham (1924)

These awards and honors reflect the high esteem in which William Bayliss was held by his peers in the scientific community. His pioneering work in the field of physiology and pharmacology continues to be influential today.

William Bayliss Book's

William Bayliss wrote several books during his career as a physiologist and pharmacologist.

Principles of General Physiology (1909)

The Vaso-motor System of the Human Brain (1910)

The Nature of Enzyme Action (1925)

The Physiology of the Glands of Internal Secretion (1929)

The Life of Harvey (1930)

The Endocrine Organs: An Introduction to the Study of Internal Secretion (1937)

In addition to these books, Bayliss also published numerous scientific papers and articles throughout his career, many of which were co-authored with his wife, Gertrude Starling.

William Bayliss Personal Life

William Bayliss's wife was Gertrude Starling.

William Bayliss was a highly accomplished scientist, but there is limited information available about his personal life.

Bayliss married Gertrude Starling, the sister of his research partner Ernest Starling, in September 3, 1895. They had two children together, a son named Leonard and a daughter named Joan.

Bayliss was known to be a devoted husband and father, and he often enjoyed spending time with his family when he was not working.

In his free time, Bayliss enjoyed gardening and playing the piano, both of which were hobbies that helped him to relax and recharge after long hours in the lab.

Bayliss was also interested in politics and social issues, and he was an advocate for social welfare and public health initiatives.

He was a member of several scientific and academic organizations, including the Physiological Society, the Royal Society of Medicine, and the British Medical Association.

William Bayliss's personal life was relatively private, and he is perhaps best known for his many contributions to the field of physiology and pharmacology, rather than for details about his personal life.

Gertrude Starling, also known as Gertrude Amelia Neal, was an accomplished physiologist who worked alongside her husband, William Bayliss, in their research on various topics related to physiology and pharmacology. She was born on September 6, 1871, in Wandsworth, London, England.

Starling was educated at University College London (UCL), where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1893 and a Doctor of Science degree in 1904. She began working as a research assistant in physiology at UCL, where she met and eventually married William Bayliss.

Starling collaborated with Bayliss on a number of research projects, including their groundbreaking discovery of the hormone secretin in 1902. She also conducted her own independent research on topics such as the physiology of respiration and the effects of various drugs on the body.

Starling published several papers in scientific journals during her career, although she often worked in the background and was not always credited for her contributions to her husband's work. Despite this, she was widely respected by her peers and was known for her meticulous attention to detail and her skill as an experimentalist.

Starling passed away on June 21, 1928, at the age of 56. She is remembered as a pioneering woman in the field of physiology and pharmacology, who made important contributions to our understanding of the human body.

William Bayliss and Gertrude Starling had two children together'

Leonard Bayliss

Joan Bayliss

Leonard Bayliss, was the son of William Bayliss and Gertrude Starling. He was born in 1896 in London, England. Leonard was educated at Oxford University, where he earned a degree in engineering.

During World War I, Leonard served in the Royal Flying Corps as a pilot. After the war, he pursued a career in engineering, working for several years in the aircraft industry. Later, he became involved in the development of radio and television technology, and he worked as a consulting engineer for various companies.

Leonard also had an interest in archaeology and anthropology, and he participated in several archaeological expeditions to the Middle East and Africa. He documented his travels with photographs and sketches, and some of his work is now held in the collections of the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University.

Leonard Bayliss passed away in 1965 at the age of 69. He is remembered as a skilled engineer and an adventurous traveler who made important contributions to the fields of technology and archaeology.

Joan Bayliss, was the daughter of William Bayliss and Gertrude Starling. She was born in 1902 in London, England. Joan was educated at Oxford University, where she earned a degree in classics.

After completing her education, Joan worked as a teacher and lecturer in the field of classics. She was also an accomplished pianist and gave recitals in London and Oxford.

During World War II, Joan served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), where she worked as a driver and a codebreaker. After the war, she returned to teaching and continued to pursue her interests in music and the classics.

Joan Bayliss never married and passed away in 1999 at the age of 96. She is remembered as a talented musician and scholar who made important contributions to her fields of interest, as well as for her service to her country during the war.

William Bayliss Death

William Bayliss passed away on August 27, 1924, at the age of 64, in London, England. He had suffered a heart attack while attending a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Bayliss was a highly respected physiologist and pharmacologist, and his contributions to the fields of physiology, pharmacology, and endocrinology continue to be recognized and celebrated today.

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