William Dobinson Halliburton (1860–1931): The first Honorary Member

In 1924, in a rarely quoted but remarkably sharp address on the status of biochemistry in Britain, F. Gowland Hopkins deplored how painfully little, “as compared to any other country of importance”, British work had contributed to advancing the subject [of biochemistry] until the beginning of the 20th Century1. However, as we shall see, W.D. Halliburton appears to be a notable exception to Hopkins' generalization. And indeed, in a retrospective assessment, Hopkins came to regard Halliburton as a pioneer in his own discipline: “He was the first in this country, by his works and his writing, to secure for it [biochemistry] general recognition and respect”2. That, in essence, explains why the Biochemical Society which he was instrumental in founding (see Plimmer's history3 elected him as its first Honorary Member in 1923.