Biography of Sir James Black

Sir James Whyte Black (1924-2010) was a lecturer at the University's Veterinary School during the 1950s. He is best known for his work on beta-blockers and for devising a means of curbing stomach acidity to permit the healing of ulcers. Black, Gertrude Elion and George Hitchings were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1988 "for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatments".

After graduating in Medicine from the University of St Andrews, Black became a lecturer in Malaya. He was appointed a lecturer at the University of Glasgow's Veterinary School in 1950 and established the Physiology Department there.

In 1958, Black joined the pharmaceuticals company ICI and later worked for Smith, Kline & French and with the Wellcome Foundation. In 1973 he was appointed Professor of Pharmacology at University College, London and in 1978 he became Professor of Analytical Pharmacology at King's College, London, holding the Chair until 1992. He was knighted in 1981 and Chancellor of the University of Dundee from 1992 until May 2006.

Summary

Sir James Black
Pharmacologist
Born 14 July 1924.
Died 22 March 2010.
University Link: Honorary Graduate, Lecturer, Memorialised
GU Degree: DSc, 1989;
Occupation categories: pharmacologists
Search for this person in UK Who's Who
Record last updated: 23rd Nov 2018

University Connections

University Roles

• Honorary Graduate
• Lecturer
• Memorialised

Buildings

• Robertson Building
• Sir James Black Building

World Changing Achievements

Sir James Black is listed on the University of Glasgow World Changing website.

• View the World Changing record

On This Day Entries

• Discovery of first beta-blocking heart drug to treat coronary heart disease (January 1 1958)
• Discovery of the first drug to block stomach acid secretion to treat gastric ulcers (January 1 1977)
• Nobel Prize in Medicine, 1988 (December 10 1988)
• Opening of Robertson Building (September 15 1992)

Images

Sir James Black