Sydney Ringer

[1] Born into a non-conformist family (often, but incorrectly described as 'Quaker') in Norwich, Sydney Ringer grew up in poverty because, when he was still very young, his father died in 1843.

[1] Ringer's early education was at a Baptist school in Norwich founded by the father of John Sherren Brewer Jr. His school fellows included the headmaster's grandson Henry William Brewer, later a notable architectural illustrator, as well as the orientalist Professor Robert Lubbock Bensly and the architect Edward Boardman.

Before starting at medical school, Ringer worked for a year, from September 1853, at the Norfolk & Norwich hospital under the surgeon, B H Norgate (who had signed his father's death certificate).

He established the minimal ionic composition (simple chloride salts of sodium, potassium and calcium) of a physiological saline.

This work provided the basis of Ringer's solution of which there followed many derivatives, modified to suit different species and experimental conditions.