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Kenneth Walton (pathologist)
Encyclopedia
Major Kenneth Walter William Henry Walton FRCP
(6 September 1919 - 26 April 2008) was a leading British experimental pathologist and rheumatologist. He published over 160 papers during his lifetime and was a member of 18 learned societies. One of the pathologists who helped form the current scientific era within his field, his death was described as 'the end of an earlier period of British rheumatology', and papers of his from the 1960s continue to be academically cited.
He was born in Lahore and attended school in Highgate, being accepted into University College London
to study Medicine, which he followed up with time spent at University College Hospital
under Roy Cameron
. During World War II
he initially tended to victims of The Blitz
before being called up in 1943, he was commissioned as a lieutenant
in the Royal Army Medical Corps
on 21 November. He spent time as a medical officer with infantry units stationed in England before being transferred to the East Asian theatre, serving as assistant director of pathology in Hong Kong. He was demobilised in 1947 and returned to UCH, but quickly transferred to Birmingham University. He went to the United States
in 1952 as part of a Rockefeller Fellowship, returning to the United Kingdom the next year. He was appointed a reader of the Experimental Pathology Department in 1954 and became a professor in 1960.
He worked at Birmingham University for over 25 years, establishing the Rheumatism Research Wing and continuing research on heart disease
. He is most well known for his 1973 study into the causes of heart disease in which participants were asked to eat greasy fry-ups. In the 1980s more academics joined his unit, allowing him to spend more time working on research; from 1981 to 1984 he published 35 papers. He retired in 1984 and suffered a brainstem stroke in 1987. He recovered, continuing research for a few more years, and died on 26 April 2008.
Royal College of Pathologists
The Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
(6 September 1919 - 26 April 2008) was a leading British experimental pathologist and rheumatologist. He published over 160 papers during his lifetime and was a member of 18 learned societies. One of the pathologists who helped form the current scientific era within his field, his death was described as 'the end of an earlier period of British rheumatology', and papers of his from the 1960s continue to be academically cited.
He was born in Lahore and attended school in Highgate, being accepted into University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
to study Medicine, which he followed up with time spent at University College Hospital
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
under Roy Cameron
Roy Cameron
Gordon Roy Cameron FRCP FRS was an Australian pathologist.-Childhood and education:Cameron was born in 1899 in Echuca, Victoria to George Cameron and his wife Emily Pascoe...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he initially tended to victims of The Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
before being called up in 1943, he was commissioned as a lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
on 21 November. He spent time as a medical officer with infantry units stationed in England before being transferred to the East Asian theatre, serving as assistant director of pathology in Hong Kong. He was demobilised in 1947 and returned to UCH, but quickly transferred to Birmingham University. He went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1952 as part of a Rockefeller Fellowship, returning to the United Kingdom the next year. He was appointed a reader of the Experimental Pathology Department in 1954 and became a professor in 1960.
He worked at Birmingham University for over 25 years, establishing the Rheumatism Research Wing and continuing research on heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
. He is most well known for his 1973 study into the causes of heart disease in which participants were asked to eat greasy fry-ups. In the 1980s more academics joined his unit, allowing him to spend more time working on research; from 1981 to 1984 he published 35 papers. He retired in 1984 and suffered a brainstem stroke in 1987. He recovered, continuing research for a few more years, and died on 26 April 2008.