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Percy Lavon Julian
1899–1975 · Organic and industrial chemistry
Percy Julian overcame racial barriers to make important medicines and materials from plant chemicals, including work on physostigmine and hormones.
Why is this scientist famous?
Co-developed a laboratory synthesis of physostigmine and pioneered affordable production of useful compounds from plants.
Synthetic chemistry helps make essential medical compounds at useful scales.
Percy's story
A difficult route to chemistry
Percy Lavon Julian was born in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1899. Segregation restricted the schooling available to Black children, but his family insisted on education. At DePauw University he took extra classes to fill gaps in his preparation and graduated as class valedictorian in 1920. He later earned a master's degree at Harvard and a doctorate from the University of Vienna in 1931.
A medicine from a bean
Julian returned to DePauw as a research fellow and worked with chemist Josef Pikl. In 1935 they completed an important laboratory synthesis of physostigmine, a compound found naturally in the Calabar bean. Physostigmine was already known as a treatment for glaucoma, an eye condition, but obtaining it from natural materials was difficult. Their work demonstrated how planned chemical reactions could make a valuable plant substance.
Soybeans become useful technology
Racial discrimination blocked Julian from a permanent academic position, so he built a career in industrial chemistry. At the Glidden Company his research used soybeans to develop useful industrial materials, including fire-fighting foam. His teams also advanced techniques for producing steroid hormones and medicine-related compounds more affordably. These achievements involved many researchers and manufacturing steps, not Julian acting alone.
Research and enterprise
In the 1950s Julian founded his own laboratories and continued working on pharmaceutical chemistry. He became an influential scientist and business leader despite repeated prejudice. He was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1973. His story shows how chemistry can turn natural molecules into practical products and why scientific opportunity should not depend on race.
What did they discover?
Synthesis of physostigmine
With Josef Pikl, completed a landmark 1935 synthesis of a plant compound used to treat glaucoma.
Soy-based industrial materials
Led industrial research that created applications for soybean chemicals, including fire-fighting foam.
Steroid production
Helped develop more practical methods for manufacturing hormone-related compounds from plant-derived starting materials.
Industrial research leadership
Established laboratories that connected organic chemistry with pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Amazing facts
He entered DePauw needing extra school classes alongside his university work.
He graduated at the top of his DePauw class in 1920.
His doctoral research took him to Vienna, Austria.
He worked with his former colleague Josef Pikl on physostigmine.
A natural source of physostigmine is the Calabar bean.
His soybean research led to fire-fighting foam used during the Second World War.
He established his own company after years in industrial research.
He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1973.
Timeline
Born in Montgomery, Alabama.
Graduated as valedictorian from DePauw University.
Earned a master's degree from Harvard.
Earned a doctorate from the University of Vienna.
With Josef Pikl, completed the synthesis of physostigmine.
Joined Glidden to direct soybean-product research.
Established Julian Laboratories.
Elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
Died in Illinois.