Peter Doyle OBE (1921–2004) was a British

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a graduated scientist trained in the study of chemistry, or an officially enrolled student in the field. Chemists study the composition of ...

Career

Doyle obtained his degree from the University of London in 1944. In 1952 he obtained a position at Beecham Laboratories in

Betchworth Betchworth is a village and civil parish in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England. The village centre is on the north bank of the River Mole and south of the A25 road, almost east of Dorking and west of Reigate. London is north of the ...

, and became Director of Research at Beecham Pharmaceuticals in 1962. Along with Ralph Batchelor, George Rolinson, and John Nayler, he was part of the team at

that discovered and synthesised new penicillins. A Royal Society of Chemistry blue plaque now marks this discovery. Doyle retired in 1983.

Awards

Doyle was given the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries' Gold Medal in Therapeutics in 1964 (awarded jointly with Dr. G N Rolinson). In 1971, he was among a group awarded the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

's Mullard Medal. He was made an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE) in 1977 "for services to the pharmaceutical industry".

References

External links

* 1921 births 2004 deaths Place of birth missing Place of death missing British chemists Officers of the Order of the British Empire {{UK-chemist-stub