Charles Best
Charles
Herbert Best was an American-Canadian scientist who is remembered as
the co-discoverer of insulin, one of the most important milestones in
the treatment of diabetes. Although he was part of the research team, he
did not receive the Nobel Prize along with his co-researchers because
he had not completed his graduation then. Frederick Banting, also
credited with the discovery of insulin and Nobel Laureate, was deeply
impressed by Best’s efforts in discovering insulin and, to honor these
efforts, he shared his Nobel Prize with Best and also praised his
efforts in the research. Best was multi-talented with good research
skills and amazing athletic skills. He was a professional basketball
player and used his remuneration from sports to pay his academic fees.
Best had worked as a professor in the University of Toronto and was
awarded with eighteen honorary degrees from universities around the
world. Learn about the life and achievements of this great academician
from this biography.
Childhood And Early Life
Best was born on 27th February 1899 in West Pembroke,
Canada. His father, Herbert Huestes Best, was a doctor an Luella Fisher
was his mother. Best got admission for the Bachelor of Arts degree
course in University of Toronto in 1916 but he interrupted his studies
to join the Canadian army. He participated in World War I as part of the
2nd Canadian Tank Battalion of Canadian Army and resumed his
studies after the war, rejoining the University of Toronto. In 1921,
Best, at the age of 22, graduated in physiology and biochemistry. In the
same year, he got an opportunity to work with Frederick Banting in his
research to obtain a pancreatic extract of insulin so that it can be
used for controlling diabetes mellitus. Though he was part of the
research, he did not receive the Nobel Prize in 1923 for Physiology or
Medicine along with Banting and J. J. R. Macleod because he had not
completed his medical degree then. However, Banting voluntarily shared
his portion of the prize with Best as an honor to his contribution to
the research. Best had some personal interest in finding an effective
treatment for diabetes for his aunt had died from diabetes in 1918. Best
also discovered the vitamin ‘choline’ and the enzyme ‘histaminase’ and
was one of the first to introduce anticoagulants to treat thrombosis.
Best’s talents were not confined just to academics; he was a good
athlete too. He was a professional basketball player and paid his fee
with his earnings from basketball matches. However, his real calling
being science, Best did not choose to become an athlete and opted for
the research offer of Frederick Banting, turning down an offer to play
in a high ranking team.
Co-discovery Of Insulin
Spring of 1921 became a turning point in Best’s life. It was during
this time that Dr. Banting travelled to Toronto to visit J.J.R. Macleod
who was working as the professor of physiology at the University of
Toronto. Banting asked Macleod for permission to use his laboratory for
his research work. Though skeptical initially, Macleod eventually agreed
to allow Dr. Banting to use his laboratory and also allotted two
medical students, Charles Best and Clark Noble, to assist in the
research. However, Banting needed only one assistant and so, he flipped a
coin to decide whom to pick. The coin favoured Best and he became
Banting’s assistant for research. Banting was deeply impressed by Best’s
efforts in the research and gave him majority of the credit for the
discovery. Banting also shared half of His Nobel Prize remuneration with
Best.
Career Post Discovery
After the successful participation in the discovery of insulin,
Best joined as a professor of Physiology in the University of Toronto in
1929, succeeding Macleod. He played an instrumental role in
establishing a Canadian program for securing and using dried human blood
serum. He then became an adviser to the United Nations World Health
Organization’s ‘Medical Research Committee’.
Personal Life
Best married Margaret Hooper Mahon in 1924 in Toronto and the
couple had two sons. One among their sons was Dr. Henry Best, a
well-regarded historian who went on to become president of Laurentian
University in Sudbury. Charles Best died in Toronto on March 31, 1978.
Awards And Honors
- Best was elected as a member of foreign American Academy of Arts and Sciences as an honorary member in 1948.
- He was recognized for his contribution to medicine and made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1967.
- Best was placed as the commander of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire and was also awarded a membership of Order of the Companions of Honor in 1971.
- Best was also bestowed with the fellowship of the Royal Society of London and the Royal Society of Canada.
- He was elected into the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and became the first Canadian to receive this honor.
- He was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 1994, posthumously.
- He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2004, posthumously.
- Educational institutions like Dr. Charles Best Secondary School in Coquitlam, C.H. Best East Middle School in Toronto, Ontario and British Columbia, C.H. Best West Elementary School in Burlington, Ontario are named in his honor.
