Edward C. Kendall

Born in South Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1886, Edward C. Kendall studied chemistry at Columbia University and built his career in biochemical research. He became closely associated with the Mayo Clinic, where he investigated the chemistry of hormones and other biologically important compounds.

Kendall is most widely remembered for his work on hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. His research helped isolate compounds that led to cortisone, and in 1950 he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Philip S. Hench and Tadeus Reichstein for discoveries relating to adrenal cortex hormones, their structure, and their biological effects.

Beyond cortisone, he also isolated thyroxine, an important hormone of the thyroid gland. His work stands out for turning difficult chemical puzzles into discoveries that had lasting medical value.