The better part of a century has passed since Sir William Mulock’s death, yet his impact on the diabetes research community remains evident today. His drive to make a difference in health directly led to the creation of Canada’s first medical research foundation, which continues to benefit patients through innovation and discovery. Born in 1843 in Bond Head, Ontario, Mulock spent his early life tending to the family farm after his family relocated to Newmarket. He went on to leave his mark on numerous chapters in Canadian history, from politics and law to academia and agriculture, and of course, diabetes innovation.
A lawyer by trade, Mulock pursued a career in politics and was elected as a Member of Parliament before becoming appointed the Postmaster General. He was also Canada’s first Labour Minister in the cabinet of Sir Wilfred Laurier, during which time he implemented minimum wage. He held his seat in Parliament for over two decades before serving as the Chief Justice of Ontario for 13 years. He also spent time as Chancellor of the University of Toronto, his alma mater, having been appointed in 1924.
With a natural curiosity for entrepreneurship and innovation, he developed his property in Newmarket, Ontario, into a centre of agricultural experimentation, featuring training and testing of new ideas and methods. He also had many business ventures, helping to build the early success of modern companies and banks like TD Bank, The Toronto Star and a brewing company now owned by Molson Coors Brewing Company. In addition to business, he has also made a lasting impression in the world of sports. In his days as a University of Toronto student, he wore the ‘C’ in the world’s first ever recorded game of football! Adding to his namesake is one of the University’s sporting trophies, the Mulock Cup – one of the oldest in Canada of its kind.
Described by many as ‘the man who did’, this impressive list of pursuits perfectly exemplifies Mulock’s inimitable work ethic. It did not end there – his philanthropy continues to make an indelible impact in people’s lives today, particularly those living with diabetes. He understood the importance of insulin’s discovery as a significant moment in Canadian history and of encouraging further scientific breakthroughs to fight disease and to build a strong biomedical sector. Mulock became the driving force behind the formation of the Banting Research Foundation, named after Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin. Mulock led its first fundraising campaign, raising an incredible sum of nearly half a million dollars. This was the very first medical research foundation of its kind in Canada, encouraging and enabling important medical advances by Canadian scientists. It also set the stage for future endeavours as an example of how funding could advance research. In addition to catalyzing research, Mulock dedicated his time to other significant community organizations including St. John Ambulance, an early version of the United Way and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
His long and colourful life was not without a bit of controversy – his abrasive language in Parliament and his rather unpopular idea for a canal in Newmarket (termed by opponents as ‘Mulock’s Madness’ because of its infeasibility) made him a memorable character to his colleagues. His family estate in Newmarket, Ontario, currently under restoration, is a site where many key players in the history of diabetes research and discovery in Canada often met. There you can take in the property that has been described as ‘grand’ – a moniker often used to describe Mulock himself: the “Grand Old Man” of Canada.
— Written by Swapna Mylabathula