Date of Birth: December 9, 1900
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: March 24, 1995
Biography
Joseph Needham, born Noel Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham, was a renowned British biochemist, historian, and sinologist. He is best known for his monumental work “Science and Civilisation in China,” a comprehensive series exploring the history of Chinese science and technology. Born in London in 1900, Needham was an only child. He attended Oundle School and later entered Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he studied biochemistry and embryology. Needham’s interest in China began in the 1930s when he met three Chinese scientists working in Cambridge. He learned Chinese, which enabled him to delve deeply into the history of Chinese science. During World War II, he was sent to China as part of the British Council, where he traveled extensively and collected numerous Chinese scientific texts. After the war, Needham returned to Cambridge and dedicated himself to his magnum opus. “Science and Civilisation in China” has been hailed as one of the greatest works on the history of science. Over the years, he received numerous honors, including a Fellowship of the Royal Society and a Companion of Honour.
5 Interesting Facts about Joseph Needham
1. Joseph Needham’s monumental work, “Science and Civilisation in China,” spans seven volumes and numerous sub-volumes, covering topics from astronomy to medicine.
2. Needham was a polyglot who mastered several languages, including Latin, Greek, French, German, and Chinese.
3. During World War II, he helped to establish the Sino-British Science Cooperation Office in Chongqing, China.
4. Needham was an avid dancer and an accomplished organist.
5. He was one of the first Westerners to recognize and document the advanced state of ancient Chinese science and technology.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Joseph Needham
1. “The Chinese are the most persistent and enduring people the world has ever seen.”
2. “History is the record of what one age finds worthy of note in another.”
3. “Science and technology in China have always been ahead of the West.”
4. “Each civilization has its own unique contributions to the totality of human knowledge.”
5. “The roots of modern science and technology can be traced back to ancient civilizations, including China.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Joseph Needham’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as his primary contributions were academic and intellectual rather than financial.
Children
Joseph Needham did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Joseph Needham on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Needham
5. [Joseph Needham Collection at Needham Research Institute](http://www.nri.org.uk/
