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Joseph Lister
1827 – 1912 · aged 85
British surgeon and antiseptic pioneer (1827–1912)
- Born
- 5 Apr 1827 · Upton House, Newham
- Died
- 10 Feb 1912 · Walmer
Life timeline
Their life from birth to death. On the timeline, world events of the time are shown faintly.
- 5 Apr 1827BornBorn in Upton House, Newham
- 1860AwardFellow of the Royal Society
- 1863AwardCroonian Medal and Lecture
- 1872AwardMakdougall Brisbane Prize
- 1877AwardCothenius Medal
- 1880AwardRoyal Medal
- 1885AwardPour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order
- 1890AwardCameron Prize of the University of Edinburgh
- 1894AwardAlbert Medal
- 1895 – 1900RolePresident of the Royal Society
- 1897 – 1912RoleMember of the House of Lords
- 1902AwardCopley Medal
- 1902AwardGrand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog
- 1902RoleMember of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- 1910AwardHonorary Doctorate from the National Autonomous University of Mexico
- 10 Feb 1912DiedDied in Walmer
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Meanwhile in the world
Major world events during their lifetime (1827 – 1912).
- 1853 – 1856Crimean War
- 1857 – 1858Indian Rebellion of 1857
- 1870 – 1871Franco-Prussian War
- 18961896 Summer Olympics
- 1898Spanish–American War
- 1904 – 1905Russo-Japanese War
Biography
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister (5 April 1827 – 10 February 1912) was an English surgeon, medical scientist, experimental pathologist and pioneer of antiseptic surgery and preventive healthcare. Lister revolutionised the craft of surgery by the use of close anatomical observation, in the same manner that John Hunter revolutionised the science of surgery.
From a technical viewpoint, Lister was not an exceptional surgeon, but his research into bacteriology and infection in wounds revolutionised surgery throughout the world.
Lister's contributions were four-fold. Firstly, as a surgeon at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, he introduced carbolic acid (modern-day phenol) as a steriliser for surgical instruments, patients' skins, sutures, surgeons' hands, and wards, promoting the principle of antiseptics. Secondly, he researched the role of inflammation and tissue perfusion in the healing of wounds. Thirdly, he advanced diagnostic science by analysing specimens using microscopes. Fourthly, he devised strategies to increase the chances of survival after surgery. His most important contribution, however, was recognising that putrefaction in wounds is caused by germs, in connection to Louis Pasteur's then-novel germ theory of fermentation.
Lister's work led to a reduction in post-operative infections and made surgery safer for patients, leading to him being distinguished as the "father of modern surgery".
Text from the Wikipedia article Joseph Lister, CC BY-SA 4.0
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