Hermann Emil Fischer

Who was Hermann Emil Fischer?

Hermann Emil Louis Fischer (German: [ˈeːmiːl ˈfɪʃɐ] ; 9 October 1852 – 15 July 1919) was a German chemist and 1902 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Fischer was born in Euskirchen, near Cologne, the son of Laurenz Fischer, a businessman, and his wife Julie Poensgen. After graduating he wished to study natural sciences, but his father compelled him to work in the family business until determining that his son was unsuitable. Fischer then attended the University of Bonn in 1871, but switched to the University of Strasbourg in 1872. Fischer remained with Baeyer at the University of Strasbourg as an independent research student. He discovered the Fischer esterification. He also developed the Fischer projection, a symbolic way of drawing asymmetric carbon atoms. He also hypothesized the lock and key mechanism of enzyme action. He obtained his doctorate in 1874 under Adolf von Baeyer with his study of phthaleins.

In the fall of 1874, he was appointed assistant of the organic laboratory.

Historical significance

He never used his first given name, and was known throughout his life simply as Emil Fischer.