John Hilton Knowles

John Hilton Knowles (May 23, 1926 – March 6, 1979) was an American cardiopulmonary physiologist and physician who was most notable for being the eighth president of the Rockefeller Foundation from 1972 until his death from pancreatic cancer in 1979, and general director of the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1962 until 1972.

Biography Early life and education Knowles was born on May 23, 1926, in Chicago to James Knowles (1896–1971), who was a flying ace in World War I and served as vice president of the Rexall Drug Company, and Jean Laurence Turnbull (1894–1982), an artist. Knowles grew up in Normandy, but when he was twelve he and his family moved to Belmont where he would attend Belmont High School. After graduating from high school, Knowles would enroll at Harvard College where he majored in biochemistry. Along with his classmate Jack Lemmon, he would play piano on the Harvard radio station. He graduated in 1947 completing his Bachelor of Arts. After being rejected by eleven medical schools, including the Harvard Medical School, he would enroll at the Washington University School of Medicine where he would be elected into the honor society Alpha Omega Alpha and graduated cum laude as Doctor of Medicine.

Knowles would start his medical internship at the Massachusetts General Hospital where he would meet Edith Morris LaCroix, a cytotechnologist, whom he would marry in 1953 and have six children with.

Massachusetts General Hospital In 1962 he became the general director of the Massachusetts General Hospital. One of the first things he did as general director was replacing wooden benches with comfortable chairs and also introduced nine coronary care units. He would also assign psychiatrists at schools, courts and social agencies including opening a medical station at the Logan International Airport for airport employees and passengers.

Rockefeller Foundation In 1972, Knowles became the 9th president of the Rockefeller Foundation and in this position he established the International Agricultural Development Service. While president, he became a professor of medicine at the New York University Medical Center.