JACOBUS H.van ‘t Hoff - THE NOBLE PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 1901

JACOBUS born in 1852 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, had an inclination of following the scientific career since childhood.
When he was 19, in the year 1871, he obtained his diploma in technology.
In 1878, he was appointed as a professor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology, and he occupied this seat for 18 years.
But he was not happy with this chair, he was overburdened by giving elementary lectures, examining large number of students, and even those who had nothing related to his field in particular. There was little time left for him to carry on his own research work.
Leaving this chair, he accepted the invitation of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, he proceeded to Bonn. At this post he remained till end of his life.
His serious identity however was revealed in 1874, when studies of contributions to the studies of acids and 3 dimensional chemical structural formulas were published.
Jacobus greatly valued the power imagination in scientific research. He believed that the most prominent scientists had this quality at the highest level.
His studies explain the asymmetrical carbon atom and occurrence of numerous isomers.
In the year 1901, he won the first Nobel Prize in chemistry. He had doctorate from several institution, prominently being, Harvard and Yale University.
Jacobus was a great lover of nature, he was fond of botanical tours, and when in Bonn he enjoyed the walks in the mountains nearby alone or in company.
Jacobus died on March 1, 1911 at Berlin.