Félix Hubert d'Herelle (1873–1949): History of a scientific mind

ABSTRACT

The discovery of bacteriophage one century ago by the French-Canadian Félix d'Herelle set off controversies as to the nature of bacteriophage as well as over the priority and credit for this discovery. The background and life of d'Herelle reveals a complex, self-taught outsider in science who was strongly influenced by his admiration of Louis Pasteur, but also his attachment to the philosophical positions of early 17th century philosophers, especially Francis Bacon. D'Herelle left substantial unpublished writings on his philosophical musings toward the end of his life.

KEYWORDS:

• biography
• d'Herelle
• discovery
• history
• philosophy

Notes

¹ d'Herelle cites Francis Bacon, De Interpretatione Naturae [sic] XII, sec 7, but I have been unable to verify this citation. This work does not have 12 parts, nor does it appear to have the text d'Herelle quotes in French. He may have been working from a variant translation (Italian or Latin?) or another author entirely.

² While the priority dispute involved the work of Twort and d'Herelle, the main advocate of Twort's priority was Jules Bordet and his protégé, Andre Gratia from the Pasteur Institute in Brussels. Bordet and his group did not claim priority for themselves, but rather sought to advance Twort's work as a way to undermine d'Herelle, who was viewed with suspicion and distaste by the Brussels group. Twort himself played a minor role in this controversy. (ref 13, pp. 60–81)