Leo Baekeland

About

Chemist who invented the first synthetic plastic, which he called Bakelite.

Before Fame

He already had his doctorate degree at 21.

Trivia

He developed a new type of photographic paper and sold the rights to Eastman Kodak, for which he was paid $1 million.

Family Life

He fell in love with his professor's daughter and eloped with her to America.

Associated With

He was awarded the Franklin Medal in 1940, which Thomas Alva Edison had also received in 1915.