Direction: In 1900, to a shipping clerk---Alexander Fleming---a career in science seemed like a distant dream. Alexander the youngest son of a Scottish farmer from Ayrshire was born on 6, August, 1881. He was able to complete High school but then his family funds ran out. At sixteen he took a job as a shipping clerk and stayed there for four years. In 1901. Alexander came across a small legacy which enabled him to continue his education, and, on the advice of one of his brothers who was a doctor, he chose to prepare for a career in medicine. Alexander did unusually well in medical school along with rifle shooting, swimming, water polo and painting. After his graduation, his teacher Prof. Wright asked him to join him in bacteriological research, which he readily agreed.