Free thinkers that you might not know. Thinker 1

From time to time i am going to post blogs about "free thinkers" that I have recently learned and admired. most of these persons are dead, because I dont believe that we can know a persons full impact until there deeds have impacted at least 3 generations (arbitrary number).

Thinker 1

Percy Julian

Percy Lavon Julian (April 11, 1899-April 19, 1975) was an American research chemist of international renown, and a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs. Born in Montgomery, Alabama and one of six children, Percy Julian had little schooling. At that time, Montgomery provided limited public education for Blacks. However, Percy Julian entered DePauw University as a "sub-freshman" and graduated in 1920 as class valedictorian. Percy Julian then taught chemistry at Fisk University, and in 1923, earned a master’s degree from Harvard University. In 1931, Percy Julian received his Ph.D. from the University of Vienna.

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY

Julian's work on female hormones from soybean sterols eventually led the way to "The Birth Control Pill. During his lifetime he received more than 130 chemical patents, and was the first and only African American chemist to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences. Percy Lavon Julian synthesized the medicines physostigmine for glaucoma and cortisone for rheumatoid arthritis.

Taken from--

http://inventors.about.com/library/

inventors/blcortisone.htm