Almroth Wright

Born in Richmond, Yorkshire, in 1861, Almroth Wright studied at Trinity College Dublin and trained in medicine before building a career in bacteriology and immunology. He worked at the Army Medical School and later at St Mary's Hospital in London, where his research focused on how the body fights infection.

Wright is especially known for his work on vaccination against typhoid fever and for developing vaccine-based treatments for certain bacterial infections. He also introduced the idea of measuring the blood's ability to destroy bacteria, which became known as the opsonic index. His scientific reputation was strong enough to earn him election as a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Beyond the laboratory, Wright was a forceful and sometimes controversial public voice. During the First World War, his department at St Mary's attracted important younger researchers, including Alexander Fleming, and his influence continued through the many scientists and doctors who trained around him. He died in London in 1947.