David R. Goddard

Who was David R. Goddard?

David Rockwell Goddard was an American plant physiologist. Goddard was most known for his contributions to the large-scale production of penicillin, bacitracin and vitamin B2 in World War II. His later research showed a relation between the respiratory chains in plants and animals. Goddard was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the chairman of the Division of Biology and the university provost at the University of Pennsylvania. Goddard was also president of the American Society of Plant Physiologists, the Society of General Physiologists and the Society for the Study and Development of Growth. He was also home secretary for the National Academy of Sciences. The University of Pennsylvania established the David Goddard Laboratories as part of Richards Medical Research Laboratories. The New York Times called Goddard a "leading plant expert".