Charles Brenton Huggins MD (1901 - 1997)

Born 22 Sep 1901 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Wellman) Huggins — married 29 Jul 1927 in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States

Died 12 Jan 1997 at age 95 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Charles Huggins MD is Notable.

Charles Huggins MD migrated from Canada to USA.

Charles Brenton Huggins was Canadian born and raised in Halifax and Parrsboro in the Maritime province of Nova Scotia. He received his B.A. degree at Acadia University in Wolfville in the Annapolis Valley. After earning his M.D. degree from Harvard, he interned at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. Dr. Huggins pursued a career in physiology and cancer research at the University of Chicago, specializing in prostate cancer. He was awarded the 1966 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discovering in 1941 that hormones could be used to control the spread of some cancers. Dr. Huggins returned to Nova Scotia to serve as Chancellor of Acadia University at Wolfville from 1972–1979.

Charles Brenton Huggins was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1901. He was the son of Charles Edward Huggins and Bessie Spencer. ^[1]

Charles’ father died in his forty-fifth year in 1912, having caught scarlet fever after nursing his young sons through the same malaise. ^[2] His mother remarried in 1916, but succumbed to encephalitis in 1919, aged forty-three years. ^[3]

Charles and his younger brother, Victor, went to Parrsboro to live with their maternal aunt, Emily Cook. ^[4] Charles was then a student of Acadia University in Wolfville, in the Annapolis Valley, from which school he obtained his B.A. degree in 1920. From Acadia, Charles went to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, earning his M.D. degree in 1924. ^[5]

From this point, his accomplished career in medical research has been very well documented—for which, please refer to the several links provided at the end of this profile. A few biographical details complete this segment of the profile:

On the 29th July 1927, Charles married Miss Margaret Wellman of Jackson, Michigan, in Toledo, Ohio. ^[6]

In 1933, while a resident of Chicago, Dr. Huggins applied for naturalization as a U.S. citizen. ^[7]

Towards the end of his considerable career, he returned to Nova Scotia, taking up the post of Chancellor of Acadia University in Wolfville from 1972–1979. ^[5]

Margaret Huggins née Wellman died on the 20th March 1983 in Chicago. She was in her seventy-ninth year. ^{[8] [9]}

Charles Huggins lived to the venerable age of ninety-five years, dying in Chicago on 12th January 1997. ^[10]

Census enumerations

1901 Census (Canada)

• Charles E. Huggins, male, white, head, married, born 20 December 1867, age 33, born in Hova Scotia, racial origin: English, Presbyterian, Druggist, reads and writes, mother tongue: English
• Bessie, female, white, wife, married, born 18 July 1876, age 24, born in Nova Scotia, racial origin: English, Baptist, reads and writes, mother tongue: English
• Margaret, female, white, mother, widow, born in 1833 [sic], age 67, born in Scotland, racial origin: Scotch, Presbyterian, reads and writes, speaks English; mother tongue: Scotch Gaelic; immigrated to Canada in 1858
• census place: Halifax, Nova Scotia ^[11]

1911 Census

• Charles Huggins, male, head, married, born in December 1868, age 42, born in Nova Scotia, race: Scotch, Canadian, Presbyterian, Druggist (22 years, on own account), life insurance $3000, reads and writes, speaks English
• Bessie, female, wife, married, born in July 1881, age 30, born in Nova Scotia, race: English, Canadian, Baptist, reads and writes, speaks English
• Brenton, male, son, single, born in Septmember 1901, age 9, born in Nova Scotia, race: Scotch, Canadian, Baptist
• Victor, male, son, single, born in November 1908, age 4, born in Nova Scotia, race; Scotch, Canadian, Baptist
• census place: 5 Brenton Place, Halifax, Nova Scotia ^[12]

1921 Census

• Clinton Cook, head, male, white, married, age 66, born in New Brunswick, both parents born in New Brunswick, nationality: Canada
• Emily Cook, wife, female, married, age 50, born in Nova Scotia, father born in Nova Scotia, mother born in USA, nationality: Canadian
• Victor Huggins, nephew, male, single, age 14, born in Nova Scotia, both parents born in Nova Scotia, nationality: Canada, speaks English, reads and writes, Baptist, Student
• Olive Wickwire, boarder, female, ...
• Carol D[-]nock, boarder, male, ...
• Charles Huggins, boarder, male, single, age 19, born in Nova Scotia, both parents born in Nova Scotia, nationality: Canada, speaks English, reads and writes, Baptist, Student
• Doris Starrett, lodger, ...
• Daniel Beaton, boarder, ...
• Victor Durric, boarder, ...
• census place: Church Street, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia ^[4]

1930 Census (USA)

• Charles Huggins, head, rents home $62.50/month, owns a radio, male, white, age 28, married at age 26, reads and writes, born in Canada-English, both parents born in Canada-English, speaks English, immigrated to the U.S. in 1920; Physician at University, not a veteran
• Margaret, wife, female, white, age 26, married at age 23, born in Michigan, both parents born in Michigan
• Charles, son, male, white, age 11/12, single, born in Illinois, father born in Canada-English, mother born in Michigan
• census place: 5427 University Ave., Chicago, Illinois ^[13]

1940 Census

• Charles B. Huggins, head, male, white, age 38, married, completed 5 years of college, born in Canada, lived in same house in 1935, Doctor of Medicine at a University
• Margaret W., wife, female, white, age 35, completed 3 years of college, born in Michigan, lived in same house in 1935
• Charles, son, male, white, age 10, single, born in Illinois
• [private], born in Illinois
• census place: 5738 Kenwood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois ^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Province of Nova Scotia (Canada). Application for Registration of a Birth. Charles Brenton Huggins, born 22 September 1901 at Halifax, son of Charles Edward Huggins and Bessie Spencer, no. 1, Poplar Grove, Halifax. Application made by Charles Brenton Huggins in August, 1966; submitted letters from the Board of School Commissioners of Halifax (stating that he had attended the Halifax Academy), Acadia University, the Public Archives (including a transcription of a birth notice, repeated below), and an affidavit from Martin Archibald of 6411 South Street (stating that his wife was a cousin of C.B. Huggins). The birth notice, published in the 25 Sept 1901 edition of The Acadia Reporter, stated, “Births: Huggins—At No. 1 Poplar Grove, Sept 22, the wife of C.E. Huggins, a son.” Original record held by Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management. Archival ref. book 1901, pg. 99100677. Digital image online at novascotiagenealogy.com (accessed and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2008-08-30).
2. ↑ The Gazette (Montréal), 15 April 1912 (pg. 8). Death notice for Charles E. Huggins, pharmacist, Halifax, brother to William H. Huggins of Ottawa. Digital image online at newspapers.com (accessed by subscription, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2019-06-21).
3. ↑ Province of Nova Scotia (Canada). Civil Registration of a Death. Bessie Trefry otherwise Huggins née Spencer, died 9 August 1919, aged 47 years, residence: 5 Brenton Place, Halifax; housewife, married, husband: Albert N Trefry; born in Parrsboro, N.S.; cause of death: encephalitis, paralysis of respiratory centre, 1 week; Baptist, white; physician in attendance: C.S. Morton, M.D.; undertaker: Snow & Co Ltd; buried in Camp Hill cemetery; registered 9 August 1919. Original record held by Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management. Archival ref. book 24, pg 162, no. 972. Digital image online at novascotiagenealogy.com (extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2008-08-30).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Canada 1921 Census. Clinton Cook, age 66, with wife, Emily (50), and Emily Cook’s nephews: Victor Huggins (14) and Charles Huggins (19); in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. Original record held by Library and Archives Canada, Sixth Census of Canada, 1921 (Ottawa); series RG31, Statistics Canada fonds. Archival ref. district no. 55, enumeration district no. 34, pg. 14. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (transcript by Alison Kilpatrick, 2017-08-22).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Burns, Tony. “Charles Breton Huggins. Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine 1966.” In, Proceedings of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science. Vol. 41, Parts 1 & 2 (pp. 13–21).
6. ↑ State of Ohio (USA). County Marriages, 1774–1993. Charles Huggins, male, age 23 (born c.1904), son of Charles Huggins and Bessie Spencer. Margaret Wellman, female, age 23 (born c.1904), daughter of Frank Wellman and Carrie Hogle. Marriage solemnized in Lucas County, Ohio. Original record; Marriage Records for Ohio, on familysearch.org. Index online at ancestry.ca (extract by Alison Kilpatrick,, 2017-08-22).
7. ↑ State of Illinois (USA). Federal Naturalization Records, 1856–1991. United States of America: Petition for Citizenship. Charles Brenton Huggins of 5740 Kenwood Ave., Chicago, Illinois; Assistant Professor of Surgery; born 22 September 1901 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; race: Scotch; declared his intention to become a citizen of the U.S. on 29 February 1928 in the U.S. District Court of Northern District of Illinois at Chicago; wife is Margaret; married on 29 July 1927 at Toledo, Ohio; Margaret born 11 July 1904 at Jackson, Michigan, resides at Chicago; one child: Charles Edward, born 9 May 1929 at Chicago and resides in Chicago; last foreign residence: Wolfville, N.S., Canada; emigrated to the U.S. from Montreal, Canada; lawful entry for permanent residence in the U.S. was at Detroit, Michigan under the name of Charles B. Huggins on 30 July 1924, on the vessel C.N. #115; has resided in Cook County since 30 July 1924; (signed:) Charles Brenton Huggins. Witnesses: Leo S. Hrdina of 5524A Ellis Ave., Chicago, Research Assistant; Hilger P. Jenkins of 620 Woodland Pk., Chicago, Surgeon. (Signed): Charles W. Bates, Clerk. Original record: District Court, Northern District, Illinois; Petitions, v. 546–547, nos. 117651–118076 (1933). Petition ref. no. 118012. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2017-08-22).
8. ↑ U.S. Social Security Death Index. Margaret Huggins, SSN 352-38-4016; last residence: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois 60637; born 10 July 1904, died in March 1983; SSN issued in Illinois in 1963. Original record: Social Security Administration. Index online at ancestry.ca (accessed 2017-08-22).
9. ↑ Chicago Tribune, 22 March 1983. Death notice for Margaret Wellman Huggins (1904–1983). Record no. 19830322ob004. Transcribed by Bonnie Dagen and posted to “Huggins Obits – Chicago Area,” www.genealogy.com, 2 September 2013 (accessed 2017-08-22).
10. ↑ Chicago Tribune, 15 January 1997. Obituary for Dr. Charles B. Huggins (1901–1997). Record no. 19970115OB9701150174. Transcribed by Bonnie Dagen and posted to “Huggins Obits – Chicago Area,” genealogy.com, 2 September 2013 (accessed 2017-08-22).
11. ↑ Canada 1901 Census. Charles E. Huggins, age 33, with wife, Bessie (24), and mother, Margaret (67); in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Original record held by Library and Archives Canada (Ottawa): Census of Canada, 1901, series RG31-C-1, Statistics Canada fonds, microfilm reels T-6428 to T-6556, census ref. district no. 33, subdistrict “D”, polling sub-division no. 4, pg. 13. Transcript online at automatedgenealogy.com (accessed 2008-08-30). Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick by subscription, 2017-08-22).
12. ↑ Canada 1911 Census. Charles Huggins, age 42, with wife, Bessie (30), and children: Brenton (9) and Victor (4); in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Original record: Library and Archives Canada, series RG31-C-1, Statistics Canada fonds, microfilm reels T-20326 to T-20460. Archival ref. district no. 45, sub-district: section B, enumeration district: ward 2, pg. 16. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2017-08-22).
13. ↑ U.S. 1930 Census. Charles Huggins, age 28, with wife, Margaret (26), and son, Charles (11 months); in Chicago, Illinois. Original record: Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930 (NARA microfilm T626), Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29, National Archives, Washington, D.C. Archival ref. enumeration district 16-182, supervisor’s district 29, pg. 5B; enumerated 8th April 1930. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2017-08-22).
14. ↑ U.S. 1940 Census. Charles B. Huggins, age 38, with wife, Margaret (35), and children; in Chicago, Illinois. Original record: USA, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration; census ref. supervisor’s district no. 2, enumeration district no. 103-298, city ward no. 5, block nos. 8, sheet 2A, enumerated 3 April 1940. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription, and transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2017-08-22).

Further reading

• Burns, Tony. “Charles Brenton Huggins. Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine 1966.” In, Proceedings of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science. Vol. 41, Parts 1 & 2 (pp. 13–21).

Links

• Canadian Medical Hall of Fame: Charles Huggins, MD
• Kilpatrick, Alison. (Link pending redesign of website, Arborealis.ca, noted 3rd Nov. 2023): Biographical sketch of Charles Brenton Huggins, M.D.
• New York Times: "C.B. Huggins Dies at 95; Won Nobel for Cancer Work"
• The Nobel Prize: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1966
• The Nobel Prize Charles B. Huggins – Biographical
• Wikipedia: Charles Brenton Huggins