Biography.guide
Home › People › Chemist › George Barger
Portrait of George Barger

George Barger

1878 – 1939

British chemist and biochemist

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About George Barger

Lived 1878 – 1939 (aged 60). George Barger was a British chemist and biochemist.

George Barger FRS FRSE FCS LLD (4 April 1878 – 5 January 1939) was a British chemist.

Life He was born to an English mother, Eleanor Higginbotham, and Gerrit Barger, a Dutch engineer in Manchester, England. His main work focused on the study of alkaloids and investigations of simple nitrogenous compounds of biological importance. Barger identified tyramine as one of the compounds responsible for the biological activity of ergot extracts. He also made significant contributions to the synthesis of thyroxine. and vitamin B1

In 1936 and 1937 he worked with Joseph John Blackie searching for materials for research.

Barger was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May, 1919 and awarded their Davy Medal in 1938.

Barger was married to Florence Emily Thomas in 1904 and had two sons and one daughter.

He died at Aeschi, Switzerland.

Positions Regius Professor of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, 1937–1939 Professor of chemistry in relation to medicine, University of Edinburgh, 1919–1937 Professor of chemistry, Royal Holloway College, University of London, 1913–1914 Head of Chemical Department, Goldsmiths' College, 1909–1913 Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, 1903–1909

Publications

Some Applications of Organic Chemistry to Biology and Chemistry (1930) Organic Chemistry for Medical Students (1932)

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
University College London, University of Cambridge, King's College
Positions held
Regius Professor of Chemistry, Glasgow University
Employers
Royal Holloway, University of London, University of Glasgow, Goldsmiths, University of London, University of Edinburgh
Awards
Fellow of the Royal Society; Cothenius Medal; Davy Medal; Fellow of the Chemical Society; Longstaff Prize

People in George Barger's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped George Barger's

Frequently asked questions

Who was George Barger?

British chemist and biochemist (1878–1939)

When was George Barger born?

George Barger was born on 4 April 1878 in Manchester.

When did George Barger die?

George Barger died on 5 January 1939 in Aeschi.

What was George Barger's occupation?

George Barger was a chemist and biochemist.

What nationality was George Barger?

George Barger was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: George Barger

· Wikidata: Q901909

· DBpedia: George Barger

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George Barger. https://biography.guide/george-barger/

MLA: "George Barger." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-barger/.

Chicago: "George Barger." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-barger/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:33 UTC