27 Facts About Robert Tigerstedt

Robert Adolph Armand Tigerstedt was a Finnish-born medical scientist and physiologist who, with his student Per Bergman, discovered renin at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm in 1898.

Robert Tigerstedt's parents were Karl Konstatin Tigerstedt and Evelina Theresia Tigerstedt.

Robert Tigerstedt matriculated from Abo Gymnasium in Turku in 1869, and then studied physical and natural sciences at the University of Helsinki, where he was taught by the notable chemist Carl Axel Arrhenius.

Robert Tigerstedt graduated from the University of Helsinki with a Master of Arts degree in 1873 and added a Bachelor of Science degree in 1876.

In 1878 he married his Ukrainian cousin, Ljuba Ludmila Martinau and their first child, Maria, was born while Robert Tigerstedt was still a medical student.

Robert Tigerstedt remained at the Karolinska for the next 20 years, initially as Loven's assistant and then as professor of physiology when Loven retired in 1886.

Robert Tigerstedt undertook most of his major scientific work, including the discovery of renin during his two decades at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

Robert Tigerstedt began writing his classic 'Lehrbuch der Physiologie des Menschens ' during this period.

Robert Tigerstedt was fluent in several languages, edited four scientific journals concurrently, authored numerous articles in popular magazines, wrote an extensive range of biographical works on famous scientists, and made important contributions to modernizing the teaching of medical sciences in Stockholm and later in Helsinki.

Robert Tigerstedt was a teetotaller and was a leading figure in the temperance movement in Finland and abroad, although he was opposed to prohibition.

Robert Tigerstedt was a member of Svenska Nykterhetssallskapet and served as its vice president from 1893.

In 1901 Robert Tigerstedt left Stockholm to take up the chair in Physiology at Helsinki University following the retirement of Hallsten.

In Helsinki Robert Tigerstedt continued his work as a physiologist, educator, author and remained active in social reform.

In 1918 Finland achieved independence from Russia and Robert Tigerstedt retired from the university in 1919, although he continued to lecture.

Robert Tigerstedt served as chairman of the committee for assistance to Finnish children, and served on other national committees related to the Finnish army and air force.

Robert Tigerstedt was a friend of Alfred Nobel and after Nobel's death Robert Tigerstedt and Karl Morner were asked by the Karolinska institute to enact the terms of Nobel's will.

In 1901 Robert Tigerstedt was selected as one of the committee for inaugural Nobel Prize.

Robert Tigerstedt had heard of Pavlov's work while visiting Ludwig's laboratory.

Since Tigerstedt spoke Russian, he and J E Johannson, Professor of Experimental Physiology at the Karolinska, were sent to St Petersburg to visit Pavlov and his laboratory.

Robert Tigerstedt was nominated twice for the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine; once in 1919 for 'his work on physiology, construction of the respirator and studies on nutrition' and in 1923 for "" but was unsuccessful on each occasion.

Robert Tigerstedt was nominated for the Swedish Academy of Sciences Award in 1882 and 1889, and he was made a member of the Academy in 1890.

Robert Tigerstedt received the Swedish Medical Society Award in 1894 and 1899, and he was invited to be an honorary member of the Swedish Medical Society in 1900.

In Finland, Robert Tigerstedt was made an honorary member of the English medical society in 1919.

The congress was cancelled due to World War I and after the war Robert Tigerstedt resigned the presidency in protest at the exclusion of Germany from the reconvened congress in 1920.

Robert Tigerstedt was awarded the Cothenius Medal by the Leopoldina Academy of Sciences in 1919.

Robert Tigerstedt was awarded honorary Doctorates from the University of Helsinki, Christiania, Dublin University.

The American Society of Hypertension confers a 'Robert Tigerstedt Distinguished Scientist Award' onto leading blood pressure researchers.