Arthur Mourant
- August 29, 1994
- 90 years
About Arthur Mourant
Arthur Mourant, 90, British chemist, hematologist and geneticist.
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Full Biography
|Arthur Ernest Mourant FRS (11 April 1904 – 29 August 1994) was a British chemist, hematologist and geneticist who pioneered research into biological anthropology and its distribution, genetics, clinical and laboratory medicine, and geology.
Mourant graduated from the University of Oxford with honours in chemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy in geology in 1931. He was an early advocate of the then discredited Wegener theory of continental drift, which subsequently gained acceptability as plate tectonics. When he left Oxford he failed to find a position in his chosen discipline and returned to his childhood home of Jersey, where he set up a pathology laboratory.
He later studied medicine and surgery at St Bartholomew's Medical College, London, joining the Galton Laboratory Serum Unit in 1946 and then founding the Blood Group Reference Laboratory in London, where he was director for 20 years.
He pioneered a study of hematology of the worldwide distribution of blood groups. This work help build the genetic map of the world by studying and classifying blood groups across many populations and ethnic groups. His book, The Distribution of the Human Blood Groups, definitively drew together current knowledge on blood groups and their distribution. It launched anthropology on a new scientific basis as it described the genetic evidence for biological relationships, and allowed theories of population genetics to be developed and examined. This had far-reaching effects on medicine, research into genetic diseases, blood transfusion, and public health.
Mourant also studied the new blood group antigens of the Lewis, Henshaw, Kell, and Rhesus systems, biological polymorphisms, and animal serological characteristics for fish stocks and cattle breeds.
Amongst his many honours and recognitions, he gained a Fellowship of the Royal Society, the Huxley Memorial Medal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Landsteiner Memorial Award of the American Association of Blood Banks and honorary member of the Human Biology Council.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Mourant
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Arthur Mourant's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Arthur Ernest Mourant born?
- A.29 August 1994
- B.11 April 1904correct
- C.11 April 1931
- D.29 August 1946
Arthur Ernest Mourant was born on 11 April 1904.
Source: biographical summary header
2.Which academic field did Arthur Ernest Mourant pursue for his Doctor of Philosophy in 1931?
- A.Anthropology
- B.Geologycorrect
- C.Hematology
- D.Chemistry
Arthur Ernest Mourant graduated from the University of Oxford with a Doctor of Philosophy in geology in 1931.
Source: education section
3.What rare radioactive mineral did Arthur Ernest Mourant discover during his early fieldwork?
- A.Uraninite
- B.Uranopyrochlorecorrect
- C.Thorite
- D.Monazite
Arthur Ernest Mourant made notable discoveries such as a rare radioactive mineral later identified as uranopyrochlore.
Source: early youth section
4.Which theory did Arthur Ernest Mourant advocate for when it was still considered discredited?
- A.Evolutionary synthesis
- B.Big Bang theory
- C.Continental driftcorrect
- D.Atomic theory
Arthur Ernest Mourant was an early advocate of the then discredited Wegener theory of continental drift.
Source: education section
5.Where did Arthur Ernest Mourant study medicine and surgery after leaving Oxford?
- A.University of Cambridge
- B.University of Jersey
- C.Galton Laboratory
- D.St Bartholomew's Medical Collegecorrect
Arthur Ernest Mourant studied medicine and surgery at St Bartholomew's Medical College, London.
Source: career path section
6.How long did Arthur Ernest Mourant serve as the director of the Blood Group Reference Laboratory?
- A.20 yearscorrect
- B.25 years
- C.10 years
- D.15 years
Arthur Ernest Mourant founded the Blood Group Reference Laboratory in London, where he was director for 20 years.
Source: career path section
7.What is the primary subject of Arthur Ernest Mourant's influential book, The Distribution of the Human Blood Groups?
- A.Animal serological characteristics
- B.Methods of blood transfusion
- C.World distribution of blood groupscorrect
- D.Geological formations in Jersey
The book The Distribution of the Human Blood Groups definitively drew together current knowledge on blood groups and their distribution.
Source: works section
8.Arthur Ernest Mourant studied the antigens of which specific blood system?
- A.Lewiscorrect
- B.Duffy
- C.Kidd
- D.Diego
Arthur Ernest Mourant studied the new blood group antigens of the Lewis, Henshaw, Kell, and Rhesus systems.
Source: research section
9.Arthur Ernest Mourant was awarded which medal by the Royal Anthropological Institute?
- A.Huxley Memorial Medalcorrect
- B.Copley Medal
- C.Linnean Medal
- D.Darwin Medal
Arthur Ernest Mourant received the Huxley Memorial Medal of the Royal Anthropological Institute.
Source: awards section
10.In what regions did Arthur Ernest Mourant conduct his early youth fieldwork and mapping projects?
- A.Jersey, Normandy and Brittanycorrect
- B.Scotland, Wales and Ireland
- C.Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- D.London, Oxford and Cambridge
During his youth, he developed an interest in geology through fieldwork in Jersey, Normandy and Brittany.
Source: early youth section
11.What year was Arthur Ernest Mourant's book Blood Relations published?
- A.1958
- B.1983correct
- C.1954
- D.1978
According to the bibliography, Blood Relations was published in 1983.
Source: bibliography section
12.Arthur Ernest Mourant was an honorary member of which organization?
- A.British Geological Survey
- B.American Association of Blood Banks
- C.Royal Society
- D.Human Biology Councilcorrect
Arthur Ernest Mourant was an honorary member of the Human Biology Council.
Source: awards section
13.What kind of laboratory did Arthur Ernest Mourant set up in Jersey after failing to find a position in his chosen discipline?
- A.Geological research laboratory
- B.Genetic mapping laboratory
- C.Pathology laboratorycorrect
- D.Anthropology laboratory
After failing to find a position in his chosen discipline, Arthur Ernest Mourant returned to Jersey and set up a pathology laboratory.
Source: education section
14.Aside from humans, Arthur Ernest Mourant studied animal serological characteristics for which animals?
- A.Horses and sheep
- B.Fish stocks and cattle breedscorrect
- C.Dogs and cats
- D.Pigs and poultry
Arthur Ernest Mourant studied animal serological characteristics for fish stocks and cattle breeds.
Source: research section
15.Arthur Ernest Mourant passed away in which year?
- A.1978
- B.1994correct
- C.1976
- D.1983
Arthur Ernest Mourant died on 29 August 1994.
Source: biographical summary header
16.Arthur Ernest Mourant joined the Galton Laboratory Serum Unit in which year?
- A.1958
- B.1931
- C.1954
- D.1946correct
Arthur Ernest Mourant joined the Galton Laboratory Serum Unit in 1946.
Source: career path section
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