Sir Fredrick Banting: An Inventor

An inventor is someone who creates methods or devices to assist them in their profession. They do not need money or wealth, but instead a simple idea and the desire to make it a reality. Sir Fredrick Banting was an inventor, who used his knowledge and profession to create something that could ultimately help others. Mr. Banting was born on November 14th 1891, in Allison, Ontario to William Thompson Banting and Margaret Grant. As an adult, he was greatly recognized for his research in the medical field, his talent in the arts, and his admirable service to his country. If people like Sir Fredrick Banting never questioned life and set out to better society, people would have never received the innovations that have changed the lives of millions.

After Fredrick graduated high school he was enrolled at Victoria College at the University of Toronto, and studied General Art. Sadly, his first year was not successful and by 1912, Fredrick changed his program, and began medical school. However, his passion for the arts had never died, and Fredrick often sketched and painted to relieve stress when he worked. This interest was rekindled in London, Ontario in the summer of 1920 when he walked past a local shop. Through the window, he saw a picture, by an unknown artist, and believed he could re-create it. Due to his slow business, he often spent hours copying images from magazines and books; this soon became Bantings ideal relaxation method. After he left London, Fredrick continued his hobby and produced many pictures of Canadian landscapes. In 1927, Banting befriended a man named A.Y Jackson, one of the members of the Group of Seven. Banting often was not pleased with his work, questioned Mr. Jackson about his technique and skill. After, weeks of honing his skills with A.Y Jackson, Banting’s work became more vivid and detailed; Fredrick soon became known as one of the best Canadian amateur painters. Jackson often critiqued his work saying, “People say his paintings are like [mine]. Well, that’s natural enough. He would have overcome this in time when he started off on his own”(“Fredrick Grant, Artist”). Sir Fredrick Banting’s work can

Banting was quickly promoted to sergeant, and later after his complication of his medical school exam he returned to active duty and was promoted to lieutenant. With this new role, he sailed to Britain and was posted at Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate, England. After a while serving at the hospital, Banting was once again promoted to Captain and transferred to France. On September of 1918, while he worked as a medical officer in the Canadian Battalion he was wounded in service. This injury was caused by intense and rapid shell fire from enemies that reached the Battalion. Along with Banting, several other men were wounded; Banting neglected his own injury and proceeded to aid those hurt. Some report suggest that Banting aided those hurt for nearly seventeen hours; despite his severed interosseous artery in his right arm. Banting received the Military Cross, an award that recognized gallant services in the war, for his actions during this event. When the second world war came around, Banting became interested with the problem connected to flying aircrafts. As the war finally broke out, Banting served once again for the British and North American medical services. Sadly, in 1941 Banting was killed in a catastrophe in Newfoundland; this all occurred just a couple years after he married his second wife, Henrietta