Banting House National Historic Site of Canada celebrates not only a great Canadian discovery, but the life and career of Sir Frederick Banting - the co-discoverer of insulin. Come celebrate the most important medical discovery of the twentieth century and experience the life of the man you thought you knew.

Realizing a staff position at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children was unattainable, and unsure how to proceed with his career, Banting sought advice from Dr. Clarence Leslie Starr - his friend, mentor and “father of research”.

Starr likely suggested Banting set up a private practice in London, Ontario. London was the largest city between Windsor and Toronto; there was an established Medical School with a modern facility under construction, and his friend and classmate W.P. Tew had also chosen London to start his practice.

Another compelling reason was Edith Roach, a woman Banting met in his hometown of Alliston, Ont. and to whom he became engaged in 1916. In moving to London, he would be closer to Edith, who held a teaching position at the nearby Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute.

With few options, Banting left Toronto and on June 3, 1920, and purchased this home for $7,800 from a well known shoe merchant Rowland Hill Sr. As their new home was still under construction, Banting allowed the Hills to remain in the house until the following spring. It was agreed that Banting would take posession of three rooms - an upstairs bedroom, the front room and the telephone room (which he turned into his apothecary), and the Hills would inhabit the remaining rooms. This agreement would later be expanded to have the Hills pay for light, heat, water, and Banting’s board.

On July 1, a brass plate was mounted on the front door, reading Frederick G. Banting M.D. He kept the regular office hours of  2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7p.m. to 9p.m., six days a week. It would be 28 days before the first patient arrived:

“My first patient wanted a liquor prescription. He was an honest soldier who had friends visiting him and he wanted to give them a drink. I gave him the prescription and considered myself rather highly trained for the bar-keeping business.”  -Banting, 1940

As a newcomer to London, Banting’s practice was slow to develop. In his first month, his income was only $4.00. It was a difficult time for the struggling young doctor in his new town.