Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schäefer was a British physiologist and endocrinologist who is credited with discovering the effects of the hormone adrenaline. He was also the first to predict the existence of the hormone insulin although it wasn't actually discovered until 1922.

He was born Edward Albert Schäefer in London on June 2, 1850, to a local merchant. When he was twenty-one, Schäefer began attending University College in London and graduated with a degree in medicine three years later, in 1874. His professor was named William Sharpey and the two shared a great mutual respect for each other. In fact, Schäefer later named one of his sons after his mentor. When the elder professor retired in 1874, Schäefer became assistant professor, eventually taking the position as Jodrell professor in 1883. In 1876 he became one of the founding members of the Physiological Society which he later...