Alexander Fleming

During World War I, approximately nine million soldiers were killed by fatal infections. This drastic number of men who died fighting for their country devastated the world by their loss. Fortunately, when the Second World War occurred years later, a scientist named Alexander Fleming discovered a substance known as penicillin that would save millions of soldiers from the fatal infections that were prevalent in World War I. People around the world recognize him as Sir Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered penicillin. But beneath the name and honor is a true hero deep within who was brave, moral, and selfless, willing to do anything for his people. Born from a modest background, Sir Alexander Fleming was born on August 6, 1881 at Lochfield, Ayshire, Scotland as one of the eight children of a farmer. Ever since he was young, he was known for his intelligence and curiosity in science. His uncle, Tom Fleming who was a medicinal practitioner, was a benefactor who encouraged Alexander Fleming to carry on his uncle's legacy in the study of medicine. Motivated by his uncle, Alexander Fleming received top scores in the national medical entrance examination that got him accepted at St. Mary's College where he would spend most of the years of his life. His interest in medicine truly piqued when he encountered the harsh dilemmas and events of the war, where he served as a doctor to treat the wounded. More determined than ever, Fleming worked diligently to research the bacteria of the fatal infections throughout his life. He continued to serve in the war as a doctor, saving those affected and injured by the war, showing his bravery in willing to risk his life in wartime to help others. Even after the wars and his infamous discovery, he continue to research and experiment to innovate a treatment that would "destroy infectious bacteria without destroying the tissues or weakening the body's defenses." (Sir Alexander Fleming, Encyclopedia of World Biography). When Fleming received recognition for his bravery and selflessness, he refused to accept one-hundred thousand dollars and instead used it to conduct further research. His bravery, morality, and selflessness lead him to become the man he is remembered for, lighting the dark world by discovering the bacterium that would not only save millions of lives but changing the course of history as well.

Throughout his life, even before and after the discovery of penicillin, Sir Alexander Fleming was brave by risking his life and safety for the welfare of others. To benefit and save the lives of those around him, Fleming enlisted in the army, specializing in the treatment of wounds: "Interrupting his research at St. Mary's temporarily, Fleming served as a captain in the British Royal Army Medical Corps during World War I. Stationed in Boulogne, France, he worked in a wound research laboratory under the command of Professor Wright" (Alexander Fleming, DISCovering Biography). He served his country to treat those who were injured or wounded, saving their lives. While he didn't fight in the battle himself, he fought the intense battle of infections that were killing thousands by the day, working diligently to save lives. Sir Alexander Fleming could have easily avoided the war yet he went in and served to help treat wounded soldiers despite the threat he could have been killed. Placing others lives before his portrays the heroic trait of bravery. Furthermore, Fleming conducted experiments and research that would eventually help many people: "From the start, Fleming was innovative and became one of the first to use Paul Ehrlich's arsenical compound, Salvarsan, to treat syphilis in Great Britain." He was brave enough to experiment with medicine which could have impacted his career negatively had it not worked out, for at the time, "medical establishment was new, in its earliest stages as an organized profession in which doctors did not have a legal standing," (Nicholas Jabbour). Sir Alexander Fleming put the thought of others before his welfare, career, and life, and thus continued to research and experiment with harmful bacteria to help save millions. While most people lack the resolute trait of bravery by being reluctant to risk their career and chances to help others, Alexander Fleming was willing to give up everything, exemplifying a true hero. The name, Sir Alexander Fleming, represents a breakthrough in the history of medicine. However, Sir Alexander Fleming as a person is not just known for his infamous discovery but for the values in his heart. He shows bravery by risking his life and his career to help save others who are in need of help.

Sir Alexander Fleming also upholds the value of morality, showing strong compassion in human ethics, emphasizing his belief in striving for what he conceives as right. His determination in doing the right thing impacted the history of medicine in a positive way and saved many people around the world: "No man, except Einstein in another field, and before him Pasteur, has had a more profound influence on the contemporary history of the human race." (Andre Maurois) He made a huge impact on the world, saving the lives of millions, changing the course of history. He conducted research for the right reasons, in which was to help people-not because of greed or pride. After his discovery of penicillin, Alexander Fleming received numerous amounts of recognition. Despite all that, he continued to teach at St. Mary's college, wanting to enlighten others: "He worked continuously at St. Mary's, being promoted to Assistant Director of the Inoculation Department in 1921, later known as the Institute of Pathology and Research; this department was renamed in 1948 as the Wright-Fleming Institute. In addition, he held a post as a bacteriology professor at London University from 1928 until his retirement from teaching in 1948" (Sir Alexander Fleming, Nobel Prize Media). He continued to teach others, even when he already discovered penicillin, a substance that saved millions of lives all over the world. He is moral for while he could have lived off his discovery of penicillin, he aspired to teach so students could prosper. He received much recognition for his intelligence and getting top scores. Yet, he conducted further research, wanting to find something that could help others. Alexander Fleming wanted to make a difference that would benefit many people. By focusing his efforts to save millions, he had a strong sense of morality.

Fleming, despite his recognition, fought for the welfare of all humanity. It shows his caring and selfless nature, putting others' welfare before him and continuing to search for something that would impact humanity. Fleming's selfless nature is shown when he refuses the huge sum of money presented to him in honor of his drug, penicillin. "Fleming never collected royalties on penicillin. In 1945 he received the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine and toured the United States, where he was hailed as a hero. American chemical firms collected $100,000 and presented it to him in gratitude for his contribution to medical science. He refused to accept the money personally but used it for research at St. Mary's" (Sir Alexander Fleming, Encyclopedia of World Biography). Even though he was being recognized and awarded, he still continued to conduct research for the greater good of humanity, showing his passion for treating others around him. Sir Alexander Fleming didn't need nor want recognition for his discovery along with the money that he could have received. Instead, he used all his money to save more people, proving that he cares for others welfare more than him, demonstrating his selfless nature. Sir Alexander Fleming created the substance penicillin to help save millions of lives. In the end result, many soldiers during the war were positively impacted by penicillin: "During World War II, the drug was rushed into mass-production in England and the United States and saved thousands of injured soldiers from infections that would otherwise have been fatal" (Alexander Fleming, World of Health). The drug shows the great impact it had on soldiers, saving lives, enhancing the knowledge of medicine Alexander Fleming continued to investigate so that he could save millions. This justifies that Fleming is a true hero, for while he could have easily lead a luxurious, wealthy life with the awards, recognition, and money, he chose the path that although wasn't filled with fame and luxury, lead to the advance in medicine and a safer future for the generations to come which is what Fleming was hoping for, showing his selflessness.

Sir Alexander Fleming upholds the values of bravery, morality, and selflessness throughout his life, even after he saved the world by discovering penicillin. He served in the war to help save many soldiers, used that experience as motivation to find something that would treat infections, and when received recognition, he used it for conducting further research to save more people. "Forever affected by the suffering he saw during the war, Fleming decided to focus his efforts on the search for safe antibacterial substances" (Alexander Fleming, World of Health). In a way, I am grateful that there was a man as brave, moral, and selfless as Alexander Fleming. Ever since I was young, I got sick very easily. A portion of my childhood was spent in the hospital, receiving medication and IV shots. The doctors informed my parents that they were going to put me on penicillin which would almost guarantee that I recover. A sickness that lasted for five months faded away in two weeks when I took penicillin. It inspired me to realize not how great penicillin is, but how great of a person Fleming was to find the bacteria, saving millions of lives. His determination outshines his discoveries, proving that he is a true hero, fighting for the welfare of society and humanity, willing to take a stand next to his people.