Osborne, Thomas B(urr) (1859-1929)

US biochemist. He devoted his research to investigations of the chemical structure, function, and nutritive value of plant (especially grain) proteins. He discovered a necessary fat-soluble substance later found to be vitamin A, and advocated a human diet relatively low in protein.

Osborne was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He spent his career as director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven (1886-1928), while concurrently appointed to the Carnegie Institution (1904-29) and serving Yale as a research assistant (1923-28).