Linus Pauling was one of the greatest, most influential chemists and activists of all time. He is the only individual to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes. He was recognized as one of the 20 greatest scientists of all time. Others included on the list were Galileo, Darwin, Newton and the only other person of the 19th century, Einstein. Linus Pauling applied his knowledge of quantum physics to chemistry. The discoveries that he made changed the work of all chemists to follow. Pauling's studies provided the basis for biotechnology. He is considered to be the father of molecular biology. In 1954, he received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work on the Nature of the Chemical Bond. After the drop of the atomic bomb, Pauling became a spokes person for the effects of nuclear fallout. He spent most of his time educating the public about the negative effects of nuclear warfare. Pauling and his wife, Ave Helen, collected 11,000 signatures of scientists' protesting the use of atomic weapons. Pauling presented this list to the United Nations. His protesting lead to the partial nuclear test ban treaty of 1963. It was for his work for peace that Pauling received the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize. Known in his later years for his work with vitamin C, Pauling would risk his reputation while standing up for his beliefs. He lived a full and active life, filled with education. He achieved so many different things in his life that he should be the measure for which all lives are compared.
Linus Pauling was born in Portland Oregon on February 28, 1901. He was born the son of a self taught pharmacist, Herman Pauling, and his wife Lucy Darling. Linus was followed by two sisters, Pauline and Frances. Herman Pauling was very ambitious and he worked very hard to have a successful pharmacy.
When Linus was 9 years old, Herman Pauling wrote a letter to the Portland Oregonian to ask advice on what books his prodigious son should read.