John Cornforth

Date of Birth: September 7, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: December 8, 2013

Biography

Sir John Warcup Cornforth was an Australian-British chemist who made significant contributions to the field of stereochemistry, a branch of chemistry that focuses on the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules. Born on September 7, 1917, in Sydney, Australia, Cornforth showed an early interest in science despite becoming progressively deaf from the age of 10 due to otosclerosis. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in organic chemistry, where he met his future wife and fellow chemist, Rita Harradence. In 1939, Cornforth moved to Oxford University to pursue his studies further, where he completed his DPhil under Sir Robert Robinson. During World War II, he collaborated with Robert Robinson in the study and synthesis of penicillin. Cornforth’s most notable work was in the field of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, where he elucidated the biosynthetic pathways of cholesterol. His pioneering research earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975, which he shared with Vladimir Prelog. Cornforth’s career was marked by numerous accolades and awards. He was knighted in 1977 and became a Fellow of the Royal Society. He continued to work and contribute to the field of chemistry until his death on December 8, 2013, in Sussex, England.

5 Interesting Facts about John Cornforth

1. John Cornforth became completely deaf by the age of 20 but continued to excel in his scientific career.

2. Cornforth and his wife, Rita Harradence, were a formidable scientific team; both were chemists who collaborated on various research projects.

3. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

4. Cornforth synthesized the first non-bacterial fermentation of penicillin during World War II.

5. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 for his contributions to science.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Cornforth

1. “Science is simply common sense at its best.”

2. “The task of science is to stake out the limits of the knowable, and to center consciousness within them.”

3. “Deafness gave me an opportunity to hear the world through chemistry.”

4. “One’s work may be finished someday, but one’s education never.”

5. “We live in a changing universe, and few things are changing faster than our conception of it.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

There is no publicly available information on Sir John Cornforth’s net worth. His wealth would primarily be derived from his academic positions and the various awards and honors he received.