Harry Steenbock

Biologist

Birthday August 16, 1886

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Madison, WI

DEATH DATE Dec 25, 1967 (81)

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About

University of Wisconsin–Madison biochemist who discovered what became Vitamin D. He also developed the cure for rickets.

Before Fame

He found that irradiating most organic foods with ultraviolet light increased in them the concentration of Vitamin D.

Trivia

He was offered as much as one million dollars for the rights to the vitamin D discovery, and decided instead of enriching himself to give the money to the University.

Family Life

He married late in life and his wife was a lab assistant of his.

Associated With

A few decades before him the Dutch scientist Christiaan Elijkman discovered vitamins exist in foods.