Joseph Lister was a British surgeon and pioneer of antiseptic surgery who lived from 1827 to 1912. He is best known for his groundbreaking work in developing the use of antiseptics during surgical procedures, which helped to drastically reduce infection rates and revolutionized the field of medicine.

Lister was born in Essex, England, and studied medicine at University College London. He later became a professor of surgery at the University of Glasgow, where he began experimenting with carbolic acid as a way to sterilize surgical instruments and prevent infection.

Lister's early experiments were met with skepticism from his colleagues, but he continued to refine his methods and was eventually able to prove the effectiveness of antiseptic surgery. He developed a system of using antiseptic spray to disinfect the air, as well as applying antiseptic dressings to surgical wounds to prevent infection.

Lister's work had a profound impact on the field of surgery, and his ideas were quickly adopted by surgeons around the world. His techniques helped to greatly reduce the number of deaths from infection during surgical procedures, and paved the way for further advances in medical science.

In recognition of his contributions to medicine, Lister was awarded numerous honors throughout his life, including a baronetcy and the Order of Merit. He remains an important figure in the history of medicine, and his legacy continues to inspire modern medical practices today.