William Bayliss

Physiologist

Birthday May 2, 1860

Birth Sign Taurus

Birthplace England

DEATH DATE Aug 27, 1924 (64)

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About

English physiologist and Fellow of the Royal Society who is best known for his work with Ernest Starling. They discovered the peptide hormone secretin and peristalsis of the intestines. 

Before Fame

He studied physiology under John Burdon Sanderson at Wadham College, Oxford, where he investigated electrical changes occurring during salivary secretion. In 1888, he was an assistant to Edward Sharpey-Schafer at University College London. 

Trivia

In 1903, he sued Stephen Coleridge for libel over the 'Brown Dog Affair' for claiming that he had incorrectly sedated a brown dog on which he performed a vivisection. In 1922, he was knighted for his contribution to medicine. His future wife was Edward Starling's daughter. The Bayliss and Starling Foundation was founded in 1979, which centers around research in central and autonomic peptide function.

Family Life

His father was a merchant of ornamental ironwork. In 1893, he got married to Gertrude. They had three sons and one daughter.

Associated With

He and Herbert Spencer Gasser were both physiologists.