Alexander Fleming at work in his laboratory. Ministry of Information photographer. Public domain or freely licensed; see source record.
1881–1955
Bacteriologist associated with the discovery of penicillin's antibacterial effect.
Direct answers to common questions about Alexander Fleming, followed by the full sourced biography.
Bacteriologist associated with the discovery of penicillin's antibacterial effect. Fleming observed in 1928 that a Penicillium mould inhibited staphylococci, but he could not turn the finding into a stable medicine. Howard Florey, Ernst Chain and a wider team developed purification and production methods during the Second World War. The history shows discovery as a collaborative process.
Alexander Fleming is particularly known for Bacteriologist associated with the discovery of penicillin's antibacterial effect., History of Medicine.
Alexander Fleming lived 1881–1955. This profile places that life within 20th Century and History of Medicine.
Alexander Fleming's career belongs within History of Medicine. Medical innovation depends on patients, laboratories, care workers and systems of production. Discovery should be assessed alongside ethics, access and unintended harm. The central subjects here are the events behind this summary: Bacteriologist associated with the discovery of penicillin's antibacterial effect.
Fleming observed in 1928 that a Penicillium mould inhibited staphylococci, but he could not turn the finding into a stable medicine. Howard Florey, Ernst Chain and a wider team developed purification and production methods during the Second World War. The history shows discovery as a collaborative process rather than one accidental moment.
Fleming observed in 1928 that a Penicillium mould inhibited staphylococci, but he could not turn the finding into a stable medicine. Howard Florey, Ernst Chain and a wider team developed purification and production methods during the Second World War. The history shows discovery as a collaborative process rather than one accidental moment.
1881: Born. Alexander Fleming was born in 1881. 20th Century: Historical career. Bacteriologist associated with the discovery of penicillin's antibacterial effect.
1955: Died. Alexander Fleming died in 1955.
Alexander Fleming's career belongs within History of Medicine. Medical innovation depends on patients, laboratories, care workers and systems of production. Discovery should be assessed alongside ethics, access and unintended harm. The central subjects here are the events behind this summary: Bacteriologist associated with the discovery of penicillin's antibacterial effect.
Alexander Fleming was born in 1881.
Bacteriologist associated with the discovery of penicillin's antibacterial effect.
Alexander Fleming died in 1955.
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Read story →Biographical claims are summarised from the sources above. Interpretation and disputed reputations are identified in the text rather than presented as settled fact.
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