His name was Alexander Fleming—the son of a Scottish pig farmer. He served in World War I, and his research has likely saved your life at some point. Or at least your parents' or grandparents' lives--and therefore yours as well! He received the Nobel Prize for his accidental discovery of penicillin.

Because he passed away On this Day, March 11, 1955, now is a very good time to recount his incredible story...

Sir Alexander Fleming was born at Lochfield near Darvel in Ayrshire, Scotland on August 6th, 1881.

His parents, Hugh and Grace were farmers, and Alexander was one of their four children. He also had four half-siblings who were the surviving children from his father Hugh's first marriage.

His parents could not afford to send him to school. His father passed away when he was only seven years of age.

He worked at a shipping office in London where he moved to when he was 13, and ultimately attended the Royal Polytechnic Institution since he could not afford to go to a private ...