Legge, John Williamson

Full description

John Williamson Legge, known as Jack Legge, was a biochemist also interested in the problem of evolution. He was educated at Geelong College and the University of Melbourne. After completing his science course in 1935(?) he spent five years with Dr Max Rudolph Lemberg at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research (Sydney) with grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council to carry out investigations into blood pigment metabolism and allied problems. From 1942 to 1946 Legge was engaged in research with the Australian Chemical Warfare Research and Experimental section of the Services and Munitions Department, carrying out physiological research in the field of chemical warfare. A fellowship (details unknown) enabled Legge to spend two years in England, which he did after the war, working at the Molteno Institute, Cambridge University with Professor David Keilin. On returning to Melbourne Legge took up a laboratory in the Old Chemical School at the University of Melbourne and lectured on biochemistry until his retirement c.1981.