What is Paul Hermann Müller birthday?

Paul Hermann Müller was born at 1899-01-12

When was Paul Hermann Müller died?

Paul Hermann Müller was died at 1965-10-12

Where was Paul Hermann Müller died?

Paul Hermann Müller was died in Basel

Which age was Paul Hermann Müller died?

Paul Hermann Müller was died at age 66

Where is Paul Hermann Müller's birth place?

Paul Hermann Müller was born in Olten, Solothurn, Switzerland

What is Paul Hermann Müller nationalities?

Paul Hermann Müller's nationalities is Swiss

What was Paul Hermann Müller universities?

Paul Hermann Müller studied at University of Basel

What is Paul Hermann Müller's sun sign?

Paul Hermann Müller is Capricorn

How famous is Paul Hermann Müller?

Paul Hermann Müller is famouse as Chemist

Paul Hermann Müller - Inorganic Chemists, Life Achievements and Family

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Paul Hermann Müller's Personal Details

Paul Hermann Muller was a Swiss Chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of a form of DDT

Information	Detail
Birthday	January 12, 1899
Died on	October 12, 1965
Nationality	Swiss
Famous	Scientists, Chemists, Inorganic Chemists
Known as	Paul Hermann Muller
Universities	University of Basel
Birth Place	Olten, Solothurn, Switzerland
Gender	Male
Sun Sign	Capricorn
Born in	Olten, Solothurn, Switzerland
Famous as	Chemist
Died at Age	66

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Who is Paul Hermann Müller?

Paul Hermann Muller was a Swiss Chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of a form of DDT which could kill insects when they came into contact with it. Though DDT had been available since 1873 it had to be ingested by the insects to be effective like all other insecticides till that time. This was an important discovery as DDT was used to kill mosquitoes carrying the malaria virus and helped save a large number of Allied soldiers fighting in the Far East. The shirts of the American and British troops were impregnated with DDT. The first large scale use of DDT was made in Naples, Italy, in 1943 to check a typhus epidemic which could be brought under control within three weeks of using the chemical. The biggest success of this chemical was its ability to reduce the incidence of malaria in different parts of the world by killing the mosquitoes that carried the germ. He developed substances for the tanning of leather that were synthetic in nature but produced fast colors. He also found out methods to conserve hides and to make wool and textile resistant to moths. His interest in botany also helped him discover a seed dressing which was free from mercury and helped the Swiss farmers.

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Childhood & Early Life

Paul Herman Muller was born in Olten, Solothurn, Switzerland on January 12, 1899. His father, Gottlieb Muller, was an official of the Swiss Federal Railways and his mother was Fanny Leopold.

He was the oldest of the four children in the Muller family.

He spent most of his early childhood in Lenzburg, in Aargau, but had to move to Basel at the age of five when his father was transferred there. After moving to Basel, Muller attended a primary school.

He attended the ‘Freie Evangelische Volsschule’ elementary and secondary schools later.

In 1916 he worked as a laboratory technician for a brief period in the chemical factory of Dreyfus & Company.

In 1917 he joined Lonza A. G. laboratories as a research chemist in the scientific-industrial laboratory and worked there for a year.

He returned to his old school, passed his matriculation examination in 1918 and obtained his diploma in 1919.

Convinced that chemistry was his future, he joined the Basel University in 1919.

In 1922 he changed his work to organic chemistry from inorganic chemistry.

He received his PhD from the University in April, 1925, for a thesis on the oxidation of ‘m-xylidine’ and its derivatives. He also studied physical chemistry and botany at the university.

Career

On May 25, 1925 Muller joined as a research chemist in the dye division of the firm ‘J. R. Geigy’ which produced synthetic dyes, plant-based dyes and tanning agents that were available in nature. He remained with this company for the rest of his life.

In 1930 he developed synthetic tanning agents and dyes which remained fast under sunlight.

In 1935 he started a study on insecticides that could affect insects coming into contact with them. He stressed upon the various criteria of a perfect insecticide that would make it cheap, highly stable for long periods, prove highly potent against all types of insects without causing any harm to plants, animals or humans.

In 1937 he developed and patented a method for producing insecticides out of synthetic cyanate and rhodanide based compounds.

He also developed a mercury-free seed disinfectant called Graminone which benefited the Swiss farmers a great deal at the time.

In 1939 Muller developed DDT or ‘dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane’ which did not have much use since it was first discovered in 1873. Till that time all insecticides were either natural which were very expensive or synthetic which were ineffective. The effective insecticides available till then were Arsenic based and were equally poisonous to humans, animals and plants.

Muller got a Swiss patent for it in 1940 and production of DDT was started by Geigy. He also got a British patent in 1942 and an American patent in 1943 after which the production of insecticide started in both the countries in real earnest.

It was first tested on the Colorado potato beetle in 1943 by both the US and the Swiss governments with great success.

It was successfully used to stop a typhus epidemic in Naples, Italy in 1943. Over the years the insecticide started showing signs of other toxicities harmful to animals and humans and its used was drastically reduced.

Muller later became the deputy chairman of J. R. Geigy and the director of research in its pesticide division.

In 1961 he retired from Geigy and carried out more experiments at the laboratory set up at his Oberswil home.

Major Works

Paul Hermann Muller’s investigations in ‘Uber Konstitiution und Toxische Wirkung von naturlichen und neuen synthetischen insektentotenden Stoffen’ written with H. Martin and P. Lauger came out in ‘Helevetica chimica acta’ in 1944.

His paper with the title ‘Uber Zusmmenhange zwischen Konstitution und insektizider Wirkung’ was published in 1946.

He gave an account of the discovery of DDT in ‘Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroathan und neuere Inzekticide’ which was published in 1949.

Awards & Achievements

Paul Hermann Muller was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1948.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Thessalonica in recognition of his discovery of the new form of DDT which was used effectively in the Mediterranean countries.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married Friedel Ruegsegger in 1927 and had two son, Heinrich and Niklaus and one daughter, Margaretha from the marriage.

Paul Hermann Muller died on October 12, 1965 in Basel, Switzerland.

Humanitarian Work

Paul Hermann Muller was instrumental in saving millions of lives by eradicating malaria from many countries and reducing its incidence in a big part of the world by discovering DDT.

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Paul Hermann Müller biography timelines

// 1873 To 1939
In 1939 Muller developed DDT or ‘dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane’ which did not have much use since it was first discovered in 1873. Till that time all insecticides were either natural which were very expensive or synthetic which were ineffective. The effective insecticides available till then were Arsenic based and were equally poisonous to humans, animals and plants.
// 12th Jan 1899
Paul Herman Muller was born in Olten, Solothurn, Switzerland on January 12, 1899. His father, Gottlieb Muller, was an official of the Swiss Federal Railways and his mother was Fanny Leopold.
// 1916
In 1916 he worked as a laboratory technician for a brief period in the chemical factory of Dreyfus & Company.
// 1917
In 1917 he joined Lonza A. G. laboratories as a research chemist in the scientific-industrial laboratory and worked there for a year.
// 1918 To 1919
He returned to his old school, passed his matriculation examination in 1918 and obtained his diploma in 1919.
// 1919
Convinced that chemistry was his future, he joined the Basel University in 1919.
// 1922
In 1922 he changed his work to organic chemistry from inorganic chemistry.
// 1925
He received his PhD from the University in April, 1925, for a thesis on the oxidation of ‘m-xylidine’ and its derivatives. He also studied physical chemistry and botany at the university.
// 25th May 1925
On May 25, 1925 Muller joined as a research chemist in the dye division of the firm ‘J. R. Geigy’ which produced synthetic dyes, plant-based dyes and tanning agents that were available in nature. He remained with this company for the rest of his life.
// 1927
He married Friedel Ruegsegger in 1927 and had two son, Heinrich and Niklaus and one daughter, Margaretha from the marriage.
// 1930
In 1930 he developed synthetic tanning agents and dyes which remained fast under sunlight.
// 1935
In 1935 he started a study on insecticides that could affect insects coming into contact with them. He stressed upon the various criteria of a perfect insecticide that would make it cheap, highly stable for long periods, prove highly potent against all types of insects without causing any harm to plants, animals or humans.
// 1937
In 1937 he developed and patented a method for producing insecticides out of synthetic cyanate and rhodanide based compounds.
// 1943
It was first tested on the Colorado potato beetle in 1943 by both the US and the Swiss governments with great success.
// 1943
It was successfully used to stop a typhus epidemic in Naples, Italy in 1943. Over the years the insecticide started showing signs of other toxicities harmful to animals and humans and its used was drastically reduced.
// 1944
Paul Hermann Muller’s investigations in ‘Uber Konstitiution und Toxische Wirkung von naturlichen und neuen synthetischen insektentotenden Stoffen’ written with H. Martin and P. Lauger came out in ‘Helevetica chimica acta’ in 1944.
// 1946
His paper with the title ‘Uber Zusmmenhange zwischen Konstitution und insektizider Wirkung’ was published in 1946.
// 1948
Paul Hermann Muller was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1948.
// 1949
He gave an account of the discovery of DDT in ‘Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroathan und neuere Inzekticide’ which was published in 1949.
// 1961
In 1961 he retired from Geigy and carried out more experiments at the laboratory set up at his Oberswil home.
// 12th Oct 1965
Paul Hermann Muller died on October 12, 1965 in Basel, Switzerland.

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Paul Hermann Müller's FAQ

What is Paul Hermann Müller birthday?
Paul Hermann Müller was born at 1899-01-12
When was Paul Hermann Müller died?
Paul Hermann Müller was died at 1965-10-12
Where was Paul Hermann Müller died?
Paul Hermann Müller was died in Basel
Which age was Paul Hermann Müller died?
Paul Hermann Müller was died at age 66
Where is Paul Hermann Müller's birth place?
Paul Hermann Müller was born in Olten, Solothurn, Switzerland
What is Paul Hermann Müller nationalities?
Paul Hermann Müller's nationalities is Swiss
What was Paul Hermann Müller universities?
Paul Hermann Müller studied at University of Basel
What is Paul Hermann Müller's sun sign?
Paul Hermann Müller is Capricorn
How famous is Paul Hermann Müller?
Paul Hermann Müller is famouse as Chemist

Paul Hermann Müller - Inorganic Chemists, Life Achievements and Family