King's Nobel laureates
Ten people who have worked or studied at King's and its constituent institutions have been awarded the Nobel Prize.
1917
Charles Barkla (1877-1944), awarded the Nobel Prize for researches into X-rays and other emissions in 1917.
Professor of Physics at King's 1909-13.
1928
Sir Owen Richardson (1879-1959) was awarded the Nobel Prize for pioneering the study of 'thermionics' in 1928.
Professor of Physics at Kings from 1914-24.
1929
Professor Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins (1861-1947), was awarded the Nobel Prize for research on vitamins and beriberi in 1929.
Taught physiology and toxicology at Guy's Hospital from 1894-8.
1932
Professor Sir Charles Scott Sherrington (1857-1952), was awarded the Nobel Prize for research on the nervous system in 1932.
Lectured in Systematic Physiology at St Thomas' Hospital 1887-91.
1947
Sir Edward Appleton (1892-1965), was awarded the Nobel Prize for exploration of the ionosophere in 1947.
Wheatstone Professor of Physics at King's from 1924-36.
1951
Dr Max Theiler (1899-1972) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for developing a vaccine for yellow fever in 1951.
Studied at St. Thomas' Hospital and also worked on the causes and immunology of Weil's disease, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and poliomyelitis.
1962
Maurice Wilkins (1916-2004) was awarded the Nobel prize for the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1962.
Latterly Emeritus Professor of Biophysics at King's.
1984
The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu (b 1931) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1984 in recognition of his work as Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches.
One of King's most respected alumni and visiting professor in Post-conflict Societies at the College in 2004. Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986-96 and Chairman of the South African Peace and Reconciliation Commission.
1988
Sir James Black (1924-2010) was awarded the Nobel Prize for the development of beta-blocker and anti-ulcer drugs in 1988.
Latterly Emeritus Professor of Analytical Pharmacology at King's.
2010
Mario Vargas Llosa was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2010.
Lecturer in Spanish American Literature in the Department of Spanish & Spanish-American Studies at King's in 1969-70, before he became a full-time writer. He became a Fellow of King’s in 2005.