Niels Ryberg Finsen (December 15, 1860 – September 24, 1904) was a Icelandic/Faroese/Danish physician and scientist. In 1903 he became the first Danish Nobel laureate. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology "in recognition of his contribution to the treatment of diseases, especially lupus vulgaris, with concentrated light radiation, whereby he has opened a new avenue for medical science" [1]. December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Doctor by Samuel Luke Fildes This article is about the term physician, one type of doctor; for other uses of the word doctor see Doctor. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1900 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... The Nobel Prizes (pronounced no-BELL or no-bell) are awarded annually to people who have done outstanding research, invented groundbreaking techniques or equipment, or made outstanding contributions to society. ... The Nobel Prizes (Swedish: ) are awards in physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and physiology or medicine. ... List of Nobel Prize laureates in Physiology or Medicine from 1901 to the present day. ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for Tubercle Bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by the mycobacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis. ... Radiation as used in physics, is energy in the form of waves or particles. ...

Niels Ryberg Finsen

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The early years

Niels Finsen was born in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, as the 2nd oldest of four children of Hannes Steingrim Finsen and Johanne Fröman, who were both born on Iceland. The family had moved to Tórshavn in 1858 when his father was given the position of Landfoged of the Faroe Islands. In 1864 when Niels was four years old his mother died, and his father remarried his mother's cousin Birgitte Kirstine Formann, with whom he had six children. In 1871 his father was made Amtmand of the Faroe Islands. Niels Finsen got his early education in Tórshavn, but was in 1874 sent to the Danish Boarding school Herlufsholm, where his older brother Olaf Finsen also was a student. Niels had, unlike Olaf, a very difficult stay at Herlufsholm culminating with a statement from the Principal which claimed Finsen to be "a boy of good heart but low skills and energy". A statement that stands in sharp contrast with the later work and research of Niels Finsen. As a consequence of his low grades he was enrolled in his father's old school, Lærði skólinn, in Reykjavík in 1876. While studying there his grades improved greatly. The peninsula Tinganes is seat of the Faroese Government in Tórshavn. ... The peninsula Tinganes is seat of the Faroese Government in Tórshavn. ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A prefect (from the Latin praefectus, perfect participle of praeficere: make in front, i. ... The peninsula Tinganes is seat of the Faroese Government in Tórshavn. ... Year 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... A boarding school is an educational institution where some or all pupils not only study, but also live, amongst their peers. ... The main building of Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík or MR is the oldest gymnasium (Icelandic: menntaskóli) in Reykjavík, Iceland. ... Location in Iceland Coordinates: Constituency Reykjavík North Reykjavík South Area    - City 274. ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

Studies in medicine

In 1882, Niels Finsen moved to Copenhagen to study medicine at the University of Copenhagen, from which he graduated in 1890. Following graduation, he became a prosector of anatomy at the University of Copenhagen. After three years, he quit this post to devote himself fully to his scientific studies. In 1898 Finsen was given a professorship and in 1899 he became a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog. Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... For other uses, see Copenhagen (disambiguation). ... The University of Copenhagen (Danish: Københavns Universitet) is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Copenhagen, Denmark. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... Prosector and physician in a dissection. ... Anatomical drawing of the human muscles from the Encyclopédie. ... The University of Copenhagen (Danish: Københavns Universitet) is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Copenhagen, Denmark. ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A professor is a senior teacher and researcher, usually in a college or university. ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671. ...

The Finsen Institute was founded in 1896, with Niels Finsen as its director. It was later was merged into Copenhagen University Hospital and currently serves as a cancer research laboratory that specializes in proteolysis. Year 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar). ... Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen Rigshospitalet - or simply Riget (as in Lars von Triers mini-series The Kingdom) - is The National Hospital in Denmark, situated in Copenhagen. ... Proteolysis is the directed degradation (digestion) of proteins by cellular enzymes called proteases or by intramolecular digestion. ...

In 1889, Niels Finsen became enganged to Ingeborg Balslev (1868–1963) and they where married on the 29 December 1892. Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Illness and death

From the mid 1880s and onward, Niels Finsen's health began to fail. He had symptoms of heart trouble and suffered from ascites and general weakness. This sickness disabled his body but not his mind, and in spite of having to spend his last years confined to a wheelchair, he continued to make great contributions to medicine. // Development and commercial production of electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered automobile by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach First commercial production and sales of phonographs and phonograph recordings. ...

Memory

Niels Finsens discovery of sunlight as a means to cure certain types of small pox and tuberculosis was surpassed with the advent of antibiotics and his scientific work is therefore largely forgotten today. But his notion that specific wavelengths of sunlight have scientifically proven healing properties lives on in the radiation treatment of cancer. Prism splitting light High Resolution Solar Spectrum Sunlight in the broad sense is the total spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. ... Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a highly contagious disease unique to humans. ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for Tubercle Bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by the mycobacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis. ... An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... Prism splitting light High Resolution Solar Spectrum Sunlight in the broad sense is the total spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Radiation therapy. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ...

There is a memorial to Niels Finsen in Tórshavn, and one of the city's main streets bears his name. The peninsula Tinganes is seat of the Faroese Government in Tórshavn. ...

External links

• Biography from the Nobel Foundation
• Niels Finsen, an engine of our ingenuity
• An extensive biography on Niels Finsen (in Danish only)
• The Finsen Institute at Copenhagen University Hospital