John Cornforth

Cornforth investigated enzymes that catalyse changes in organic compounds, the substrates, by taking the place of hydrogen atoms in a substrate's chains and rings. In his syntheses and descriptions of the structure of various terpenes, olefins, and steroids, Cornforth determined specifically which cluster of hydrogen atoms in a substrate were replaced by an enzyme to effect a given change in the substrate, allowing him to detail the biosynthesis of cholesterol.^[8] For this work, he won a share of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975, alongside co-recipient Vladimir Prelog, and was knighted in 1977.^[9]

Education[edit]

Cornforth was educated at Sydney Boys' High School, where he excelled academically, passed tests in English, mathematics, science, French, Greek, and Latin,^[16] and was inspired by his chemistry teacher, Leonard ("Len") Basser,^[17][18] to change his career directions from law to chemistry.^[12][19] Cornforth graduated as the dux of the class of 1933 at Sydney Boys' High School, at the age of 16.^[20]


In 1934, Cornforth matriculated and studied at the University of Sydney,^[20][21] where he studied organic chemistry at the University of Sydney's School of Chemistry and from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science with First-Class Honours and the University Medal in 1937.^[9][22] During his studies, his hearing became progressively worse, thus making listening to lectures difficult. At the time, he could not use hearing aids as the sound became distorted, and he did not significantly use lip reading.


While studying at the University of Sydney, Cornforth met his future wife, fellow chemist and scientific collaborator, Rita Harradence.^[23][24] Harradence was a graduate of St George Girls High School^[23][24] and a distinguished academic achiever^[10][25][26] who had topped the state in Chemistry in the New South Wales Leaving Certificate Examination.^[27] Harradence graduated with a Bachelor of Science with First-Class Honours and the University Medal in Organic Chemistry in 1936, a year ahead of Cornforth.^[28] Harradence also graduated with a MSc in 1937,^[29] writing a master's thesis titled "Attempts to synthesise the pyridine analogue of vitamin B1".^[30]


In 1939, Cornforth and Harradence, independently of each other, each won one of two Science Research Scholarships (the 1851 Research Fellowship) from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851,^[31] tenable overseas for two years.^[28] At the University of Oxford, Harradence was a member of Somerville College while Cornforth was at St. Catherine's College^[32] and they worked with Sir Robert Robinson, with whom they collaborated for 14 years.^[10] During his time at Oxford, Cornforth found working for and with Robinson stimulating, and the two often deliberated to no end until one had a cogent case against the other's counterargument.^[33] In 1941, Cornforth and Harradence both graduated with a D.Phil. in Organic Chemistry.^[34][35] At the time, there were no institutions or facilities at which a PhD in chemistry could be done in Australia.^[36]