| Authorised form of name | Fitzsimons; James Thomas; physiologist |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales |
| Date of birth | 8 July 1928 |
| Date of death | 27 December 2023 |
| Occupation | physiologist |
| Research field | Physiology |
| Neuroscience |
| Behavioural neuroscience |
| Activity | Education:
St Edmund’s College, Ware, Hertfordshire; Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge BA 1949; MA 1954
Career:
Fellow of Gonville & Caius College (1961-1990); University Lecturer in Physiology, University of Cambridge (1964-76); Director of Studies in Medicine, University of Cambridge (1978-93); Professor of Medical Physiology, University of Cambridge (1990-1995); Professorial Fellow Gonville & Caius College (1990-95); Life Fellow Gonville & Caius College (1995); President of Gonville & Caius College (1997-2005).
Awards/Medals:
Docteur honoris causa en Médecine de l'Université de Lausanne, Suisse 1978
Distinguished Career Award of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior 1998 |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 17/03/1988 |
| Age at election | 59 |
| RSActivity | Sectional Committee 8: Multicellular organisms, Member 1989-1992; 1997-200 |
| Relationships | Paretns: Robert Fitzsimons and Dr Mary Fitzsimons.
Spouse: (1961) Aude Fitzsimons.
Children: One daughter and two sons. |
| PublishedWorks | RCN 12101 |
| OtherInfo | His experimental demonstration of the important involvement of the renin-angiotensin system in the control of thirst and sodium appetite was a landmark in our understanding of the physiological basis of thirst. Discovered that angiotensin II acts both peripherally and in the brain to stimulate fluid and electrolyte intake.
His work helped to illuminate the functional organisation of the hypothalamus and vegetative functions in general, and suggests the possible physical basis of a motivational state. |
| Related images | Discover a selection of related images in our picture library |
| Source | 'Professor James Fitzsimons FRS' on the Royal Society website [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/james-fitzsimons-11440/; last accessed: 20/11/2024]
'Professor James Fitzsimons FRS' on the Gonville & Caius website [URL: https://www.cai.cam.ac.uk/news/professor-james-fitzsimons-1928-2023; last accessed: 20/11/2024]
'Memorial Service: Professor James Thomas Fitzsimons PhD, MD, ScD, FRS 8 July 1928-27 December 2023' on Gonville & Caius College website [URL: https://www.cai.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/James%20Fitzsimons%20memorial%20service.pdf; last accessed: 20/11/2024] |
| Code | NA4172 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| EC/1988/12 | Fitzsimons, James Thomas: certificate of election to the Royal Society | 1981 |
| IM/GA/GGRS/8525 | Fitzsimons, James Thomas | nd |