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Linus Pauling

American scientist (1901-1994) · United States · Scientists · Died at 93

Linus Pauling is read about 1,236 times a day, in 98 languages.

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The only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes - one for mapping the chemical bond, one for trying to stop the bomb. A founder of quantum chemistry and molecular biology whose late-career vitamin crusade the scientific mainstream never bought.

ScientistsScientistChemistryPhysicsUnited StatesAmericas20th Century

A life in dates

2026
Read more around National Medal of Science8 October 2026, and 2 others were read more that weekSee the moment2008California Hall of FameAward1994Died19 August 19941992“As far as women are concerned, I am old-fashioned enough to like the idea of a woman's managing the household. This is an important activity.”In their wordsA Lifelong Quest for Peace (1992) by Linus Pauling and Daisaku Ikeda

1990“I realized that more and more I was saying, "It seems to me that we have come to the time war ought to be given up.”In their words11 November 1990Interview at Big Sur, California (11 November 1990).

“I've been asked from time to time, "How does it happen that you have made so many discoveries?”In their words11 November 1990Interview at Big Sur, California (11 November 1990).

1987George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical EducationAward1984Priestley MedalAward1977Lomonosov Gold MedalAward1967Roebling MedalAward1965Guggenheim FellowshipAward1963“The only sane policy for the world is that of abolishing war.”In their words11 December 1963Nobel Lecture for The Nobel Peace Prize 1962 (11 December 1963).

1962Gandhi Peace AwardAward1958Honorary Doctorate of the University of MontpellierAward1949Honorary Doctor of the University of ToulouseAward1948Liversidge AwardAward1947“Science cannot be stopped. Man will gather knowledge no matter what the consequences - and we cannot predict what they will be.”In their wordsOctober 1947Lecture at Yale University, "Chemical Achievement and Hope for the Future." (October 1947) Published in Science in Progress. Sixth Series.

Silliman Memorial LecturesAward1946Willard Gibbs AwardAward1931Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical PhysicsAward1926Guggenheim FellowshipAward1901Born28 February 1901

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Linus Pauling 1962Linus Pauling 196227. Tagung 1977 Chemiker; Linus C. Pauling Porträt - W134Nr.108890d - Willy Pragher27. Tagung 1977 Chemiker; Linus C. Pauling Porträt - W134Nr.108890d - Willy Pragher27. Tagung 1977 Chemiker; Maikäferrede- vorn- Feodor Lynen, Adolf Butenandt, Sir Derek H. R. Barton, dahinter- Vladimir Prelog, Nikolai N. Semenov, Li - LABW - Staatsarchiv Freiburg W 134 Nr. 108897e27. Tagung 1977 Chemiker; Maikäferrede- vorn- Feodor Lynen, Adolf Butenandt, Sir Derek H. R. Barton, dahinter- Vladimir Prelog, Nikolai N. Semenov, Li - LABW - Staatsarchiv Freiburg W 134 Nr. 108897e27. Tagung 1977 Chemiker; Sitzreihen im Theater Sir Derek H. R. Barton, Linus C. Pauling - W134Nr.108864f - Willy Pragher27. Tagung 1977 Chemiker; Sitzreihen im Theater Sir Derek H. R. Barton, Linus C. Pauling - W134Nr.108864f - Willy Pragher33. Tagung 1983 Chemiker Linus C. Pauling - W134Nr.120815a - Willy Pragher33. Tagung 1983 Chemiker Linus C. Pauling - W134Nr.120815a - Willy Pragher33. Tagung 1983 Chemiker Linus C. Pauling - W134Nr.120815c - Willy Pragher33. Tagung 1983 Chemiker Linus C. Pauling - W134Nr.120815c - Willy Pragher33. Tagung 1983 Chemiker Pressekonferenz mit Linus C. Pauling, Christian Anfinsen, Dorothy Hodgkin, Walter Gilbert, Sir Derek H. R. Barton - W134Nr.120817b - Willy Pragher33. Tagung 1983 Chemiker Pressekonferenz mit Linus C. Pauling, Christian Anfinsen, Dorothy Hodgkin, Walter Gilbert, Sir Derek H. R. Barton - W134Nr.120817b - Willy PragherDrvanBreemen (51845283549)DrvanBreemen (51845283549)

In their own words 10

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Linus Pauling
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10 statements, newest first

  1. As far as women are concerned, I am old-fashioned enough to like the idea of a woman's managing the household. This is an important activity.

    1992, A Lifelong Quest for Peace (1992) by Linus Pauling and Daisaku Ikeda, Own words

  2. I realized that more and more I was saying, "It seems to me that we have come to the time war ought to be given up.

    Nov 11, 1990, Interview at Big Sur, California (11 November 1990)., Own words

  3. I've been asked from time to time, "How does it happen that you have made so many discoveries?

    Nov 11, 1990, Interview at Big Sur, California (11 November 1990)., Own words

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Awards

California Hall of Fame2008
Tolman Award1990
George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education1987
Lavoisier Medal1986
Priestley Medal1984
NAS Award in Chemical Sciences1979
Lomonosov Gold Medal1977
National Medal of Science1974
Lenin Peace Prize1969
Roebling Medal1967
Linus Pauling Award1966
Guggenheim Fellowship1965
Nobel Peace Prize1962
Gandhi Peace Award1962
Humanist of the Year1961
Honorary Doctorate of the University of Montpellier1958
Nobel Prize in Chemistry1954
Honorary Doctor of the University of Toulouse1949
Liversidge Award1948
Foreign Member of the Royal Society1948
Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Paris1948
Medal for Merit1948
Silliman Memorial Lectures1947
Davy Medal1947
Willard Gibbs Award1946
William H. Nichols Medal1941
ACS Award in Pure Chemistry1931
Irving Langmuir Award in Chemical Physics1931
Guggenheim Fellowship1926
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellow of the American Physical Society
Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Chemical Pioneer Award

Family

Linus Pauling

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About this person

Born February 28, 1901, Pauling laid the groundwork for quantum chemistry and molecular biology, devising orbital hybridization and the first reliable electronegativity scale. His work on protein structure revealed the alpha helix and beta sheet, insights that steered Watson, Crick, Franklin, and Wilkins toward cracking DNA. In 1954 he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Then he pivoted: he spent years campaigning for nuclear disarmament, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962. Later he championed megavitamin therapy and orthomolecular medicine - claims about ascorbic acid that mainstream science has not accepted. He died August 19, 1994, having published more than 1,200 papers, married to human rights activist Ava Helen Pauling.

Country
United States
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1901 to 1994 · aged 93

In common with Linus

Michael DellAround the same time: National Medal of ScienceJames WatsonAround the same time: National Medal of ScienceSergey BrinAround the same time: National Medal of ScienceSatya NadellaAround the same time: National Medal of SciencePierre CurieBoth received Davy MedalSvante ArrheniusBoth received Davy Medal

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