Sir Harold Percival (Harry) Himsworth (19 May 1905 – 1 November 1993) was a British scientist, best known for his medical research on diabetes mellitus.

Early life

He was the son of Joseph Arnold Himsworth of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and he was educated at Spring Grove School and Almondbury Grammar School.

Medical career

He studied medicine at the University of London and trained in University College Hospital (UCH). His early involvement in medical research (especially of diabetes and later of liver disease) would lead to an important 1936 paper in The Lancet, distinguishing the two main types of diabetes.

He was appointed Professor of Medicine at the University of London and the Secretary of the Medical Research Council (MRC) for the very long period of 1949-1968.

He was awarded a knighthood in the New Year honours of 1952 and, in 1953, would be appointed Honorary Physician to the Queen.

His archives are being held by the Wellcome Institute, London.

Sources

• "Sir Harold Himsworth MD FRS (1905–1993)", Diabetologia Journal, 26 February 2007 (long biography)
• "Huddersfield & District History - Connections With Titled Classes In Modern Times", Edward Law, 9 April 2002 (short biography)

References

• Himsworth HP. Diabetes mellitus: its differentiation into insulin-sensitive and insulin-insensitive types. Lancet 1936;i:127-130.