jjj75 - Joseph Lister was a pioneer of antiseptic surgery. Graduated from London uni in arts and medicine, then was House Surgeon in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Worked with Louis Pasteur and developed the use of soaking surgical instruments in carbolic acid, which resulted in fewer infections, and therefore deaths.

Simpson pioneered the use of chloroform which was administered to Queen Victoria during childbirth, which subsequently became very popular and generally accepted.

Sorry to disagree mintus, but Alexander Graham Bell is recognised globally as the inventor of the telephone. Never heard of Meucci...............

Oh and totally agree jjj75 about sense of humour and the ability to laugh at ourselves!