Norman Haworth
Who was Norman Haworth?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1937)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Norman Haworth (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Sir Walter Norman Haworth was a British chemist who won the 1937 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, sharing the honor with Swiss chemist Paul Karrer for his work on carbohydrates and vitamin C. He was born in Chorley, Lancashire, on March 19, 1883, and his research into the structures of sugars and vitamins significantly advanced organic chemistry and biochemistry.
Haworth studied at several prestigious institutions. He attended the University of Manchester, where he developed an interest in organic chemistry, and then pursued advanced studies at the University of Göttingen in Germany. He returned to Manchester to complete his academic training, which laid the groundwork for his future research. In 1910, he received the 1851 Research Fellowship, enabling him to conduct independent research.
Haworth's most notable work involved figuring out the structures of various sugars and his pioneering research on ascorbic acid, known as vitamin C. While at the University of Birmingham, he identified the structure of this essential vitamin and devised methods for its synthesis. His findings were crucial for understanding vitamin C's role in biological systems and contributed to advances in nutrition and medicine.
Haworth is also well-known for creating the Haworth projection, a method that simplifies the representation of three-dimensional sugar molecules in a two-dimensional format. This tool became vital for chemists studying carbohydrates, helping them visualize and understand complex molecular structures. The projection is still commonly used in chemistry textbooks and research today.
Throughout his career, Haworth received many honors for his scientific work. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1928 and received the Davy Medal in 1934. He was awarded the Longstaff Prize in 1933 and the Royal Medal in 1942. Knighted in 1947, he became Sir Norman Haworth. He also received honorary degrees from several universities, including the University of Oslo and the University of Manchester. Haworth passed away on March 19, 1950, in Barnt Green, exactly 67 years after he was born.
Before Fame
Norman Haworth grew up during the late Victorian era when chemistry was transforming from an empirical craft into a rigorous science. His early education in Chorley took place as Britain was going through significant industrial growth, with scientific education becoming more important for technological progress. The expanding chemical industry opened up new opportunities for researchers to contribute practically to society.
The early 20th century was a golden age for organic chemistry, with scientists across Europe making important discoveries about molecular structures. Haworth chose to study at British and German institutions because chemical research was highly international at the time. Germany, in particular, was seen as the world leader in chemistry education and research, so his studies at Göttingen were crucial for his development as a scientist.
Key Achievements
- Won the 1937 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for investigations on carbohydrates and vitamin C
- Determined the correct molecular structure of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- Developed the Haworth projection method for representing three-dimensional sugar structures
- Elucidated the structures of multiple important carbohydrates and sugars
- Elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1928 and knighted in 1947
Did You Know?
- 01.He died on the exact same date as his birth, 19 March, exactly 67 years later
- 02.The Haworth projection he developed is still taught in every organic chemistry course worldwide and appears in virtually all biochemistry textbooks
- 03.He shared the 1937 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Paul Karrer, with each scientist recognized for work on different vitamins
- 04.His research on vitamin C structure was conducted during a time when the concept of vitamins was still relatively new to science
- 05.He received honorary doctorates from universities in three different countries, reflecting the international recognition of his work
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 1937 | for his investigations on carbohydrates and vitamin C |
| Fellow of the Royal Society | 1928 | — |
| Royal Medal | 1942 | — |
| Davy Medal | 1934 | — |
| 1851 Research Fellowship | 1910 | — |
| Knight Bachelor | 1947 | — |
| Longstaff Prize | 1933 | — |
| honorary degree | — | — |
| honorary doctorate of the University of Oslo | — | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Manchester | — | — |
| honorary doctor of Queen's University Belfast | 1947 | — |
| Royal Society Bakerian Medal | 1944 | — |
| Royal Society Bakerian Medal | — | — |