Hans von Euler-Chelpin
Who was Hans von Euler-Chelpin?
Swedish scientist (1873-1964)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Hans von Euler-Chelpin (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Hans Karl August Simon von Euler-Chelpin, born on February 15, 1873, in Augsburg, Germany, became one of the most respected biochemists of the twentieth century. He studied at Humboldt University in Berlin and the University of Würzburg, gaining a solid foundation in chemistry and the natural sciences. He was a distant relative of the famous Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler, which shows the intellectual heritage in his family. After completing his studies, he moved to Sweden, where he spent most of his career and eventually became a Swedish citizen.
In 1906, Euler-Chelpin joined Stockholm University as a professor of general and organic chemistry, a role he held until 1941. He later led the university's Institute for Organic-Chemical Research from 1938 to 1948. His research during this time focused on fermentation, enzymes, and the chemical processes in biological systems. In 1929, he and British biochemist Arthur Harden won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their research on sugar fermentation and the role of enzymes. Their work helped explain how cells break down sugars, impacting both biology and medicine.
He first married Astrid Cleve, a chemist and daughter of Uppsala chemist Per Teodor Cleve. They had a son, Ulf von Euler, who also achieved scientific success and won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1970, making them a rare Nobel Prize-winning family in science. Hans later married Beth von Euler-Chelpin, and his life and career were closely connected to the Scandinavian scientific community.
During World War II, Euler-Chelpin stirred controversy by expressing support for Germany during the Nazi era, despite living in Sweden. He received the Goethe Medal for Art and Science from the Nazi government in 1943, which tarnished his reputation after the war. This part of his life remains a topic of discussion for historians studying the link between science and politics during that time.
Hans von Euler-Chelpin was honored with many awards during his life for his scientific work, including honorary doctorates from the University of Zurich, the University of Bern, Rutgers University, Stockholm University, and the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel. He was also awarded the Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He passed away on November 6, 1964, in Stockholm, leaving behind a scientific legacy that influenced biochemistry for future generations.
Before Fame
Hans von Euler-Chelpin, born in Augsburg in 1873, grew up during a time when the German scientific world was rapidly advancing. In the late 1800s, chemistry was becoming a serious academic subject, with German universities leading in chemical research worldwide. Euler-Chelpin attended the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the University of Würzburg, both key institutions during this time of scientific growth, where he met top experts in organic and physical chemistry.
In his early career, he became interested in biological chemistry just as the line between chemistry and biology was becoming more intertwined. The study of fermentation, once just a practical skill, was being turned into an exact science by researchers across Europe. Euler-Chelpin joined this movement, moving to Sweden and setting up at Stockholm University, where he developed the research program that eventually earned him the Nobel Prize.
Key Achievements
- Won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1929, shared with Arthur Harden, for research into sugar fermentation and enzymes
- Served as professor of general and organic chemistry at Stockholm University from 1906 to 1941
- Directed the Institute for organic-chemical research at Stockholm University from 1938 to 1948
- Received honorary doctorates from five universities, including Zurich, Bern, Rutgers, Stockholm, and Kiel
- Established a multigenerational Nobel Prize family legacy through his son Ulf von Euler's 1970 Nobel Prize
Did You Know?
- 01.His son Ulf von Euler won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1970, making them one of only a few parent-child pairs to each receive a Nobel Prize.
- 02.He was distantly related to the eighteenth-century Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler, one of the most prolific mathematicians in history.
- 03.His first wife, Astrid Cleve, was herself a trained chemist and the daughter of Per Teodor Cleve, the Swedish chemist who discovered the elements holmium and thulium.
- 04.He received the Goethe Medal for Art and Science in 1943, a wartime award issued by the Nazi government, which later became a source of reputational controversy.
- 05.He continued directing the Institute for organic-chemical research at Stockholm University until 1948, seven years after retiring from his professorship, remaining active in research well into his seventies.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 1929 | for their investigations on the fermentation of sugar and fermentative enzymes |
| Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany | — | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Zurich | — | — |
| Honorary doctor at the University of Bern | — | — |
| Goethe Medal for Art and Science | 1943 | — |
| honorary doctor of Rutgers University | — | — |
| honorary doctor of Stockholm University | — | — |
| honorary doctor of the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel | — | — |
Nobel Prizes
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