Sir Edward Mellanby, G.B.E., K.C.B., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.S. (1884-1955): The Man, Research Worker, and Statesman

Sir Edward MelIanby had accepted a cordial invitation from the Editorial Committee of the Annual Review of Biochemistry to contribute this Prefatory Chapter. Unhappily, before he had completed his seventy-first year, he died suddenly on Sunday, January 30, 1955, about mid-day, after he had spent the morning at his research. His draft of the introduction to his contribution to this volume is printed below in the section“ to British Biochemistry.”

For nearly six years after retiring from the post of Secretary of the Medical Research Council, he continued to engage in research work and in many scientific affairs. He was, for example, active in the Royal Society, of which he had been a Fellow for 30 years, and he was one of its Vice-Presidents. Sir Henry Dale has recently completed an Obituary Notice of Mellanby for the Royal Society (1955); this tribute is of such grandeur as perhaps only a man of Sir Henry's eminence could contribute, and I shall quote from this to give the weight of wisdom, experience, and knowledge to this chapter.