Paul Walden

About

Russian chemist who published the influential History of Chemistry book in 1949. He also invented a synthetic chemical reaction called Walden Inversion.

Before Fame

Walden was greatly influenced by his work with Nobel Prize winning chemist Wilhelm Ostwald.

Trivia

Because of the political tensions in his native Latvia, he decided to leave the country to settle in Germany.

Family Life

He lost both of his parents when he was five years old but was able to complete his education with the financial support of his two older brothers.

Associated With

In 1924, he was invited back to teach in his native Latvia, but he did not care for Lenin's reforms and declined the offer.