William Banting
1796–1878 (age 82)
Biography
William Banting (1796–1878) was known in London as a successful funeral director, but his lasting legacy came from the personal struggle he documented in a pamphlet that guided others toward health. After years of ill health due to corpulence he worked with physicians to adopt a diet low in starch and sugar, and the results convinced him of the importance of publicizing his regimen.
His ‘Letter on Corpulence’ became a best-selling guide that brought the ideas of low-carbohydrate eating to a broad reading public, remaining in print for decades and earning him wide respect as an early advocate for weight-conscious living; he rests now in Brompton Cemetery.