Person Feldberg; Wilhelm Siegmund (1900 - 1993); pharmacologist and physiologist Feldberg Wilhelm Siegmund pharmacologist and physiologist 1900 - 1993 British Male Hamburg, Germany, Europe 19/11/1900 19001119 Lavenham, 74 Marsh Lane, Mill Hill, London, England 23/10/1993 19931023

Pharmacologist and Physiologist Neuroscience Biology Physiology Education: Heinrich Hertz Realgymnasium, Hamburg 1918; medical studies in Hamburg and Heidelberg; Munich 1923; University of Berlin MD 1925; Cambridge University (1938-49) Career: Moved to England and studied first under John Newport Langley (FRS 1883), at Cambridge and then Henry Dale (FRS 1914), at Hampstead(1925); returned as an Assistent to the Physiological Institute in Berlin but was dismissed from the position during the Nazi removal of Jewish scientists (1933); owing to an invitation from Dale, he returned to Hampstead (1933); a grant from the Carnegie Foundation enabled him to work with Charles Kellaway at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia (1936-8); returned to England as Rockefeller lecturer in physiology at the University of Cambridge (1938); promoted to reader in Physiology (1947); head of the division of physiology and pharmacology at the National Institute for Medical Research (by then translated to Mill Hill) (1949-1965); continued to work at Mill Hill until he was forced to give up his scientific work as a consequence of attacks by animal rights activists (1990). Honours: CBE 1963 Parents: (Emil) Daniel Feldberg (d. 1914), draper, and Amilie, née Bacharach (d. 1928). Siblings: Lore (b. 1895), died in London in 1965, and Alexander (b. 1899). Spouse: 1) (m. 1925) Katherine Scheffler (1897–1976), chemist trained at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin, and daughter of the art historian Karl Scheffler 2) (m. 28 September 1977) Kathleen Marguerite (Kim) O'Rourke (b. 1924/5-1981), daughter of Charles John Alfred O'Rourke, regimental sergeant-major in the Royal Artillery. She was his Secretary at Mill Hill for many years. Children: Lore, a paediatric cardiologist, and (Karl) Johann David, maker of harpsichords. Well known for his important work on the detection & physiological properties of Acetylcholine. This work has played an essential part in demonstrating the role of acetylcholine as a transmitter of excitations in the nervous system. His earlier work on Histamine showed the same high quality and accurate experimental technique. He was able to prove the liberation of histamine from anaphylactic tissue and later, in Melbourne, he investigated the action of snake venoms from the same point of view. His studies of the synthesis of acetylcholine by various tissues has found a new and interesting field. Feldberg's scientific career ended with an exposé by animal rights activists, of malpractice and cruel methods of experimentation on animals. An inquiry by the Medical Research Council found in 1991 that he breached regulations and caused unnecessary suffering to animals. Medals and prizes: Royal Medal 1983 Lectures: Ferrier 1974 Fellow 20/03/1947 46 Francis Hugh Adam Marshall John Henry Gaddum Henry Hallett Dale Charles H Kellaway Joshua Harold Burn Ernest Basil Verney David Keilin Edgar Douglas Adrian Obituaries: Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 1997 vol 43 pp 143-170, plate, by G W Bisset and T V P Bliss DNB Feldberg W S, GA WS 2876.jpg International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.1997.0009 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Feldberg%2C+Wilhelm+Siegmund RCN 17473 RCN 14228 RCN 22211 RCN 8595 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH2860 19 Nov 1900 - 23 Oct 1993 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 26/03/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7843 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 08/09/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes a5035bd2-d415-4e53-94bf-91073ef23e11