Did you know?

One reason for Alexander Fleming choosing to study at St Mary's Hospital in London was that he had enjoyed playing water polo against them.

He was also a good marksman, and a key member of St Mary's Hospital Rifle Club. St Mary's offered him a post after completing his studies partly because they didn't want to lose such a keen shot!


Alexander Fleming (1881-1955)

Reading list

Further reading about Alexander Fleming:

  • 'Alexander Fleming', by Beverley Birch. (Watford: Exley Publications, 1990).
  • 'Alexander Fleming: the man and the myth', by Gwyn MacFarlane. (London: Chatto and Windus, 1984).
  • 'My Brother Alec' by Robert Fleming. Series of articles in 'Kilmarnock Standard'. February to June 1962.
  • 'Penicillin Man: Alexander Fleming and the antibiotic revolution' by Kevin Brown. (Stroud: Sutton, 2004).
  • 'Pioneers of Science – Alexander Fleming', by Paul Bennett. (Hove: Wayland Publishers, 1992).
    Children's book
  • 'Sir Alexander Fleming man of pencillin', by John Malkin. (Ayr: Alloway Publishing, 1981).
  • 'The Life of Sir Alexander Fleming', by André Maurois. (London: Jonathan Cape, 1959).

Search the National Library of Scotland main catalogue for details of these titles.


Portrait of Alexander Fleming