John Cornforth

Biography

Sir John Warcup Cornforth Jr. was an Australian-British chemist whose pioneering work on enzyme stereochemistry earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975. Born on 7 September 1917 in Sydney, Australia, Cornforth overcame major personal challenges to become one of the most important organic chemists of the 20th century. He began losing his hearing during childhood and was almost completely deaf by the time he reached university, yet this didn't stop his dedication to science.

Cornforth went to Sydney Boys High School and then to the University of Sydney, where he found his love for chemistry. He later continued his studies at the University of Oxford, specifically at St Catherine's College, where he laid the groundwork for his revolutionary research. His academic talent was recognized early on, earning him an 1851 Research Fellowship that supported his advanced studies.

Cornforth made crucial scientific contributions by thoroughly investigating enzyme-catalyzed reactions, especially focusing on how enzymes replace specific hydrogen atoms in organic compounds. His work involved detailed analysis of terpenes, olefins, and steroids, leading to a full understanding of cholesterol biosynthesis. He pinpointed which hydrogen atoms enzymes targeted during chemical transformations, mapping the exact paths that guide these key biological processes.

Cornforth shared the 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Vladimir Prelog for their work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. His achievement was notable as he became the only Nobel laureate born in New South Wales. After this honor, he was knighted in 1977, adding to his already impressive list of honors. Throughout his career, he kept strong ties to both Australia and Britain, eventually settling in Brighton, where he died on 8 December 2013. His marriage to Rita Harradence provided personal support, aiding his demanding research career that spanned several decades.