Frederick Banting: Hero, Healer, Artist

Ian A. Andrews is editor of the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association’s Focus and co-author of Becoming a Teacher.

Stephen Hume has written a fascinating biography of Frederick Banting.
The reluctant hero is credited with making one of the most important
discoveries in medical history—insulin—which has prolonged the lives
of millions of diabetics.

Hume’s explanation of the logistics and experimentation leading to
Banting’s discovery understate a gloomy personality tainted by
alcohol, tobacco, divorce, and the inability to exploit his fame and
notoriety with the media. Banting’s accomplishments were not only
limited to a Nobel Prize in medicine (an honor he felt bitterness in
sharing with his associates), he also earned a Military Cross in World
War I, was knighted by King George V, and sketched credible scenes with
his friend, Group of Seven artist A.Y. Jackson. His career crossed paths
with Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov, socialist doctor Norman Bethune, and
military hero Andy McNaughton when working at the National Research
Council.

Yet Banting’s character is portrayed as relatively joyless, flawed
with vices and idiosyncrasies, but always the scientist, always
experimenting to find a breakthrough. In true Canadian understated
fashion, Hume displays his hero, “warts and all.” High-school
students will easily relate with this depiction. Highly recommended.