List of notable or famous chemists from the United States, with bios and photos, including the top chemists born in the United States and even some popular chemists who immigrated to the United States. If you're trying to find out the names of famous American chemists then this list is the perfect resource for you. These chemists are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known chemist from the United States is included when available.
Examples of people on this list: George Washington Carver, Linus Pauling and more.
This historic chemists from the United States list can help answer the questions "Who are some American chemists of note?" and "Who are the most famous chemists from the United States?" These prominent chemists of the United States may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected American chemists.
Use this list of renowned American chemists to discover some new chemists that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page. {#nodes}1
George Washington Carver (1860s – January 5, 1943), was an American agricultural scientist and inventor. He actively promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion.While a... more2
Gordon Moore
Age: 91Birthplace: California, United States of America
Birthplace: California, United States of America
Gordon Earle Moore (born January 3, 1929) is an American businessman, engineer, and the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Intel Corporation. He is also the author of Moore's law. As of April 2019,... more- 3
Linus Pauling
Dec. at 93 (1901-1994)Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States of America
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States of America
Linus Carl Pauling (; February 28, 1901 – August 19, 1994) was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, educator, and husband of American human rights activist Ava Helen Pauling. He... more - 4
Leo Baekeland
Dec. at 81 (1863-1944)Birthplace: Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium
Birthplace: Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium
Leo Henricus Arthur Baekeland FRSE(Hon) (November 14, 1863 – February 23, 1944) was a Belgian chemist. He is best known for the inventions of Velox photographic paper in 1893 and Bakelite in 1907. He... more - 5
Arnold Orville Beckman
Dec. at 104 (1900-2004)Birthplace: Cullom, Illinois
Birthplace: Cullom, Illinois
Arnold Orville Beckman (April 10, 1900 – May 18, 2004) was an American chemist, inventor, investor, and philanthropist. While a professor at California Institute of Technology, he founded Beckman... more - 6
Gregory Goodwin Pincus
Dec. at 64 (1903-1967)Birthplace: Woodbine, New Jersey
Birthplace: Woodbine, New Jersey
Dr. Gregory Goodwin Pincus (April 9, 1903 – August 22, 1967) was an American biologist and researcher who co-invented the combined oral contraceptive pill.... more - 7
Henry Eyring
Dec. at 80 (1901-1981)Birthplace: Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Birthplace: Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Henry Eyring may refer to: Henry Eyring (chemist) (1901–1981), Mexican-born American theoretical chemist Henry Eyring (Mormon pioneer) (1835–1902), German Mormon convert and emigrant to the U.S.,... more - 8
Stephanie Kwolek
Dec. at 91 (1923-2014)Birthplace: New Kensington, Pennsylvania
Birthplace: New Kensington, Pennsylvania
Stephanie Louise Kwolek (July 31, 1923 – June 18, 2014) was an American chemist who is known for inventing Kevlar. She was of Polish heritage and her career at the DuPont company spanned over 40... more - 9
Leland Clark
Dec. at 87 (1918-2005)Birthplace: Rochester, New York
Birthplace: Rochester, New York
Leland C. Clark Jr. (December 4, 1918 – September 25, 2005) was an American biochemist born in Rochester, New York. He is most well known as the inventor of the Clark electrode, a device used for... more - 10
Catherine Coleman
Age: 59Birthplace: Charleston, South Carolina
Birthplace: Charleston, South Carolina
Catherine Grace "Cady" Coleman (born December 14, 1960) is an American chemist, a former United States Air Force officer, and a retired NASA astronaut. She is a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions,... more - 11
George M. Church
Age: 66Birthplace: MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
Birthplace: MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
George Church may refer to: George Church (sport shooter) (1889–1951), South African sports shooter George Church (tennis) (1891–1946), American tennis player George Church (priest), Archdeacon of... more - 12
Tracy Caldwell Dyson
Age: 51Birthplace: Arcadia, California
Birthplace: Arcadia, California
Tracy Caldwell Dyson (born Tracy Ellen Caldwell; August 14, 1969) is an American chemist and NASA astronaut. Caldwell Dyson was a Mission Specialist on Space Shuttle Endeavour flight STS-118 in... more - 13
Albert C. Barnes
Dec. at 79 (1872-1951)Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Albert Coombs Barnes (January 2, 1872 – July 24, 1951) was an American chemist, businessman, art collector, writer, and educator, and the founder of the Barnes Foundation in Lower Merion,... more - 14
Millie Hughes-Fulford
Age: 74Birthplace: Mineral Wells, Texas
Birthplace: Mineral Wells, Texas
Millie Elizabeth Hughes-Fulford (born December 21, 1945) is an American medical investigator, molecular biologist and former NASA astronaut who flew aboard a NASA Space Shuttle mission as a Payload... more - 15
John Fenn
Dec. at 93 (1917-2010)Birthplace: New York City, New York
Birthplace: New York City, New York
John Bennett Fenn (June 15, 1917 – December 10, 2010) was an American research professor of analytical chemistry who was awarded a share of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2002. Fenn shared half of... more - 16
Robert S. Mulliken
Dec. at 90 (1896-1986)Birthplace: Newburyport, Massachusetts
Birthplace: Newburyport, Massachusetts
Robert Sanderson Mulliken (June 7, 1896 – October 31, 1986) was an American physicist and chemist, primarily responsible for the early development of molecular orbital theory, i.e. the elaboration... more - 17
Herbert Henry Dow
Dec. at 64 (1866-1930)Birthplace: Belleville, Canada
Birthplace: Belleville, Canada
Herbert Henry Dow (February 26, 1866 – October 15, 1930) was a Canadian-born American chemical industrialist, best known as the founder of the American multinational conglomerate Dow Chemical. He... more - 18
Neil Bartlett
Dec. at 76 (1932-2008)Birthplace: Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Birthplace: Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Neil Bartlett (15 September 1932 – 5 August 2008) was a chemist who specialized in fluorine and compounds containing fluorine, and became famous for creating the first noble gas compounds. He taught... more - 19
Melvin Calvin
Dec. at 86 (1911-1997)Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Melvin Ellis Calvin (April 8, 1911 – January 8, 1997) was an American biochemist known for discovering the Calvin cycle along with Andrew Benson and James Bassham, for which he was awarded the 1961... more - 20
John Pemberton
Dec. at 57 (1831-1888)Birthplace: Knoxville, Georgia
Birthplace: Knoxville, Georgia
John Stith Pemberton (July 8, 1831 – August 16, 1888) was an English pharmacist who is best known as the inventor of Coca-Cola. In May 1886, he developed an early version of a beverage that would... more - 21
Calvin Souther Fuller
Dec. at 92 (1902-1994)Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Calvin Souther Fuller (May 25, 1902 – October 28, 1994) was a physical chemist at AT&T Bell Laboratories where he worked for 37 years from 1930 to 1967. Fuller was part of a team in basic research... more - 22
Leopold Godowsky, Jr.
Dec. at 83 (1900-1983)Leopold Godowsky Jr. (May 27, 1900 – February 18, 1983) was an American violinist and chemist, who together with Leopold Mannes created the first practical color transparency film, Kodachrome.... more 
23Marie Maynard Daly
Dec. at 82 (1921-2003)Birthplace: Corona, New York City, New York
Birthplace: Corona, New York City, New York
Marie Maynard Daly (April 16, 1921 – October 28, 2003) was an American biochemist. She was the first Black American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry (awarded by Columbia... more- 24
Jheri Redding
Dec. at 91 (1907-1998)Birthplace: Rantoul, Illinois
Birthplace: Rantoul, Illinois
Jheri Redding (born Robert William Redding March 2, 1907 – March 15, 1998) was an American hairdresser, chemist, hair-care products entrepreneur and businessman. Redding is best known for having... more - 25
Rachel Fuller Brown
Dec. at 82 (1898-1980)Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts
Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts
Rachel Fuller Brown (November 23, 1898 – January 14, 1980) was a chemist best known for her long-distance collaboration with microbiologist Elizabeth Lee Hazen in developing the first useful... more
