Harry Steenbock

Biologist
BIRTHDAY
August 16,1886
Birthplace
Madison, WI
Age
Dec 25,1967,age 81
Birth Sign
Leo
BIRTHDAY
August 16,1886 (age Dec 25,1967,age 81)
Birthplace
Madison, WI

About

University of Wisconsin–Madison biochemist who discovered what became Vitamin D. He also developed the cure for rickets.

Before Fame

He found that irradiating most organic foods with ultraviolet light increased in them the concentration of Vitamin D.

Trivia

He was offered as much as one million dollars for the rights to the vitamin D discovery, and decided instead of enriching himself to give the money to the University.

Family Life

He married late in life and his wife was a lab assistant of his.

Associated With

A few decades before him the Dutch scientist Christiaan Elijkman discovered vitamins exist in foods.