Abstract
THOUGH the study of chemical physiology in Oxford began some three hundred years ago, it is only within the last fow years that this subject has been recognised as a separate school of science. It then became clear that the importance of the study of the chemistry of living things togethei with the rapid extension of knowledge in this field made it imperative that recognition should he given to biochemistry by the foundation of a readership or chair, The University was fortunate in the generosity of Mr. Whitley, of Trinity College, who made possible the foundation of a chair, thenceforward known as the Whitley Chair of Biochemistry. To this chair was elected, in 1920, Dr. Benjamin Moore, wh may be regarded not only as the first to hold the chair of biochemistry at Oxford, but also as among the pioneers of biochemistry in Great Britain. Unfortunately for Oxford, Moore did not live long to enjoy his new position. The present holdei of the chair, Dr. Rudolph A. Peters, was elected towards th beginning of 1923. Shortly after he came to Oxford,4he University received from the Rockefeller Foundation an offer of £75,000 towards the erection of a new Department of Biochemistry. £55,000 of this was to be devoted to the building and its equipment, and the remaining £20,000 towards maintenance. This offer was accompanied by the condition that the University should guarantee to contribute the sum of £25,000 or its equivalent in annual income towards the general maintenance of the new Department. This munificent gift was gratefully accepted by the University. Not only did it provide for a proper development of biochemistry, but also it solved the acute problem of providing additional accommodation for the Department of Physiology, a need that had been long delayed.
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The New School of Biochemistry at Oxford. Nature 120, 634–635 (1927). https://doi.org/10.1038/120634a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/120634a0