Rudolf Weigl

About

Biologist, doctor and inventor known for being the first one to create an effective vaccine against typhus. He also provided shelter to Jewish people during the Holocaust. In 2003, Israel granted him the distinction of Righteous Among Nations, which is awarded to a non-Jew for their life-saving efforts during World War II. 

Before Fame

When World War I broke out in 1914, he was drafted into medical service for the Austro-Hungarian military. It was during this time that he began researching typhus. 

Trivia

He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine seven times. 

Family Life

He was born to Austrian parents, but his father died an untimely death in a bicycle accident. 

Associated With

Marie Curie was another scientist who invented an effective vaccine.