Niels Ryberg Finsen
Scientists

Niels Ryberg Finsen Net Worth

Niels Ryberg Finsen was a Faroese-Danish physician and scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for his invention of modern phototherapy. He discovered that red light could prevent the pockmarks of smallpox, and developed a successful UV treatment for skin tuberculosis. Finsen was afflicted with Pick's disease, which confined him to a wheelchair and prevented him from attending the Nobel Prize ceremony. Despite his poor health, he was a mentally agile man who continued to pursue scientific research.
Niels Ryberg Finsen is a member of Scientists

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Physician
Birth Day December 15, 1860
Birth Place Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Danish
Age 159 YEARS OLD
Died On 24 September 1904(1904-09-24) (aged 43)\nCopenhagen, Denmark
Birth Sign Capricorn
Alma mater University of Copenhagen
Known for Phototherapy
Awards Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1903)

💰 Net worth

Niels Ryberg Finsen, the renowned Danish physician, is expected to have a net worth ranging from $100K to $1M in 2024. Finsen, known for his groundbreaking work in the field of phototherapy, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1903. Throughout his career, Finsen revolutionized the treatment of diseases such as lupus vulgaris through his innovative use of light therapy. With his significant contributions to the medical community, it comes as no surprise that his estimated net worth reflects his success and recognition in his field.

Biography/Timeline

1858

The family moved to Tórshavn from Iceland in 1858 when his father was given the position of Landfoged. When Niels was four years old his mother died, and his father married her cousin Birgitte Kirstine Formann, with whom he had six children. In 1871 his father was made Amtmand of the Faroe Islands. His father was a member of the Faroese parliament for 12 years, and his older brother Olaf similarly became a member of parliament for 5 years as well as the first mayor of the capital, Tórshavn.

1874

Finsen got his early education in Tórshavn, but in 1874 was sent to the Danish boarding school Herlufsholm, where his older brother Olaf was also a student. Unlike Olaf, Niels had a difficult stay at Herlufsholm, culminating with a statement from the principal which claimed Niels was "a boy of good heart but low skills and energy". As a consequence of his low grades and difficulties with the Danish language, he was sent to Iceland in 1876 to enroll in his father's old school, Lærði skólinn, in Reykjavík. By the time he graduated he was 21 years old and finished 11th out of 15th students.

1882

In 1882, Finsen moved to Copenhagen to study Medicine at the University of Copenhagen, from which he graduated in 1890. Because he had studied in Iceland before moving to Copenhagen to study, he enjoyed privileged admission to Regensen, which is the most prestigious college dormitory in Denmark. Priotisation of Icelandic and Faroese individuals in the admission process was official Danish government policy that had been put in place in order to integrate the educated elites of its colonies with the university population in Copenhagen. Following graduation, he became a prosector of anatomy at the university. After three years, he quit the post to devote himself fully to his scientific studies. In 1898 Finsen was given a professorship and in 1899 he became a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog.

1892

Finsen married Ingeborg Balslev (1868–1963) on December 29, 1892.

1896

The Finsen Institute (da) was founded in 1896, with Finsen serving as its first Director. It was later merged into Copenhagen University Hospital and currently serves as a cancer research laboratory that specializes in proteolysis.

1903

Finsen won the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1903 for his work on phototherapy. He was the first Scandinavian to win the prize and is the only Faroese Nobel Laureate to date.

1904

Finsen's health began to fail in the mid-1880s. He had symptoms of heart trouble and suffered from ascites and general weakness. The sickness disabled his body but not his mind, and he continued to work from his wheelchair. He died in Copenhagen on September 24, 1904. Accounts of his funeral can be found at the National Library of Medicine.

1909

A large memorial to Finsen designed by Rudolph Tegner was installed next to Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen in 1909. It shows a standing naked man flanked by two kneeling naked women reaching up to the sky. The sculpture is entitled Mod lyset (Towards the Light), and symbolised Finsen's principal scientific theory that sunlight can have healing properties. It is situated on the corner of Blegdamsvej and Nørre Allé.

1985

Niels Finsen was born in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, as the second-oldest of four children. His parents were Hannes Finsen (da), who belonged to an Icelandic family with traditions reaching back to the 10th century, and Johanne Fröman, who was born and raised in Iceland.

2013

Finsen suffered from Niemann–Pick disease, which inspired him to sunbathe and investigate the effects of light on living things. As a result, Finsen is best known for his theory of phototherapy, in which certain wavelengths of light can have beneficial medical effects.. His most notable writings were Finsen Om Lysets Indvirkninger paa Huden ("On the effects of light on the skin"), published in 1893 and Om Anvendelse i Medicinen af koncentrerede kemiske Lysstraaler ("The use of concentrated chemical light rays in medicine"), published in 1896. The papers were rapidly translated and published in both German and French. In his late work he researched the effects of sodium chloride, observing the results of a low sodium diet, which he published in 1904 as En Ophobning af Salt i Organismen ("An accumulation of salt in the organism").

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About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.