# Edward Calvin Kendall

> American chemist (1886-1972)

**Wikidata**: [Q110101](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110101)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Calvin_Kendall)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/edward-calvin-kendall

## Summary
Edward Calvin Kendall was an American chemist and biochemist recognized for his pioneering research in hormone isolation and adrenal gland function. He is best known for his discovery of cortisone and his Nobel Prize-winning work on the hormones of the adrenal cortex.

## Biography
- **Born:** March 8, 1886
- **Died:** May 4, 1972
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** Columbia University; Spaulding High School (Concord, New Hampshire); St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
- **Known for:** Discovery of cortisone; research on adrenal cortex hormones; isolation of thyroxine
- **Employer(s):** Mayo Clinic
- **Field(s):** Chemistry; Biochemistry

## Contributions
Kendall's primary contributions centered on the isolation and synthesis of hormones. In 1914, he successfully isolated thyroxine from the thyroid gland, a major milestone in understanding thyroid function. Later, at the Mayo Clinic, he led a research team that isolated several hormones from the adrenal cortex, identifying them as steroids. His most significant contribution was the isolation of Compound E (later named cortisone). This work, conducted in collaboration with Philip Hench, demonstrated cortisone's effectiveness in treating rheumatoid arthritis, revolutionizing the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

## FAQs
**What awards did Edward Calvin Kendall receive?**
Kendall received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1950, shared with Philip Hench and Tadeus Reichstein, for their discoveries concerning adrenal cortex hormones. He was also a recipient of the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the AMA Scientific Achievement Award, the George M. Kober Medal, the Remsen Award, the Cameron Prize of the University of Edinburgh, the John Scott Award, and the Golden Plate Award.

**What institutions was Edward Calvin Kendall affiliated with?**
Kendall spent a significant portion of his career working at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He was also a member of several prestigious scholarly societies, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.

**What was Edward Calvin Kendall's educational background?**
Kendall attended Spaulding High School and St. Paul's School, both located in Concord, New Hampshire. He pursued his higher education at Columbia University, where he received his training in chemistry.

## Why They Matter
Edward Calvin Kendall matters fundamentally for bridging the gap between organic chemistry and clinical medicine, specifically through his work on hormones. His isolation of thyroxine provided the first pure sample of a thyroid hormone, enabling effective treatments for thyroid deficiencies. However, his most profound impact lies in his adrenal gland research. By isolating and characterizing hormones from the adrenal cortex, Kendall laid the biochemical foundation for the development of corticosteroids. The discovery of cortisone's anti-inflammatory properties transformed the management of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions, alleviating suffering for millions of patients. His work established the field of steroid chemistry in medicine, influencing decades of subsequent research into hormonal therapies and the body's stress response mechanisms.

## Notable For
- **Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1950):** Awarded for discoveries concerning adrenal cortex hormones.
- **Discovery of Cortisone:** Isolated Compound E from the adrenal cortex, leading to effective treatments for arthritis.
- **Isolation of Thyroxine:** Successfully crystallized thyroxine from the thyroid gland in 1914.
- **Membership in Elite Academies:** Elected to the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and American Philosophical Society.
- **Lasker Award:** Recipient of the prestigious Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award.
- **Mayo Clinic Tenure:** Served as a key researcher at one of the world's leading medical research institutions.
- **Pioneering Biochemist:** Recognized as a leading figure in the study of chemical processes in living organisms.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Edward Calvin Kendall was born on March 8, 1886. His early education took place in Concord, New Hampshire, where he attended both Spaulding High School and St. Paul's School. He pursued higher education at Columbia University, where he developed the foundational knowledge in chemistry that would underpin his future biochemical research.

### Career at the Mayo Clinic
Kendall's professional career was deeply intertwined with the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit organization and medical research group based in Rochester, Minnesota. As a biochemist at the clinic, he operated within an institution known for its integrated mission of clinical care, research, and education. The Mayo Clinic, founded in 1889, provided the infrastructure and collaborative environment necessary for Kendall's complex hormonal research. His work contributed to the clinic's reputation as a global leader in medical innovation.

### Thyroxine Research
One of Kendall's earliest major achievements was the isolation of thyroxine. Before his work, the thyroid gland was known to produce a hormone, but its chemical nature was not fully understood. Kendall successfully isolated the crystalline form of the hormone in 1914. This achievement allowed for the precise study of thyroid function and the development of synthetic treatments for thyroid disorders, establishing Kendall as a significant figure in the field of biochemistry.

### Adrenal Cortex and Cortisone
Kendall's most influential work involved the study of the adrenal glands. He focused on the outer layer of the adrenal glands, known as the adrenal cortex. Over a period of several years, he and his team succeeded in isolating and identifying several distinct hormones from this tissue. These compounds were identified as steroids.

Among these isolates was "Compound E," which Kendall identified in the 1930s. This compound would later be known as cortisone. Kendall's chemical isolation work was critical, but the clinical application was discovered in collaboration with his colleague at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Philip Hench. In 1948, they administered cortisone to a patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis, observing a dramatic improvement in symptoms. This discovery marked a turning point in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

### Recognition and Awards
Kendall's contributions to science were recognized through numerous prestigious awards. In 1950, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Philip Hench and Tadeus Reichstein. The Nobel Committee specifically cited their "discoveries concerning the hormones of the adrenal cortex, their structure and biological effects."

Beyond the Nobel Prize, Kendall received the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, often considered America's Nobel, for his contributions to clinical medicine. He was also awarded the AMA Scientific Achievement Award by the American Medical Association and the George M. Kober Medal, conferred by the Association of American Physicians. Additional honors include the Remsen Award from the American Chemical Society, the Cameron Prize of the University of Edinburgh, and the John Scott Award.

### Academic and Professional Affiliations
Throughout his career, Kendall was an active member of the scientific community. He held memberships in three of the most distinguished scholarly organizations in the United States: the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. These memberships reflected his standing as a leading scientist whose work significantly advanced the field of biochemistry.

### Legacy in Biochemistry
Kendall's work fundamentally advanced the discipline of biochemistry, defined as the study of chemical processes in living organisms. By isolating specific hormones and elucidating their chemical structures, he provided concrete examples of how biological systems function at a molecular level. His research demonstrated the link between chemical structure and physiological function, a core tenet of biochemistry. His legacy persists in the continued use of corticosteroids in medicine and in the foundational knowledge of endocrine chemistry. He passed away on May 4, 1972.

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