John Cornforth Biography

Sir John Warcup Cornforth Jr. was an Australian-British chemist who won the 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Vladimir Prelog. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his study on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Life was not a bed of roses for Cornforth. At a young age, he was diagnosed with progressive hearing loss, a medical condition which made him completely deaf later on in life. The loss of hearing power motivated him to pursue chemistry as his field of study because it primarily dealt with conducting reactions and experiments which needed visual aid. He was fascinated with the working of nature and the laws that governed it in everyday life. His curiosity about knowledge and reasoning shaped a researcher in him and he made significant contribution to the field of science through his deep insight and knowledge. His life was dedicated to research in the field of organic chemistry and his study in stereochemistry proved to be a major milestone, which made him a Nobel Laureate. His achievements are an inspiration to millions of people in the world, especially the ones suffering from any kind of disability, to achieve their dreams through their earnest efforts. He was a curious and sincere man with an undying courage and gratitude towards life which made him one of the most renowned researchers of the 20th century.