Paul Flory

Paul John Flory (June 19, 1910 – September 9, 1985) was an American chemist and Nobel laureate who was known for his work in the field of polymers, or macromolecules. He was a leading pioneer in understanding the behavior of polymers in solution, and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1974 "for his fundamental achievements, both theoretical and experimental, in the physical chemistry of macromolecules". Flory was born in Sterling, Illinois, on June 19, 1910. He was raised by Ezra Flory and Nee Martha Brumbaugh. His father worked as a clergyman-educator, and his mother was a school teacher. He first gained his interest in science from Carl W Holl, who was a professor in chemistry. Holl was employed in Indiana at Manchester College as a chemistry professor. In 1936, he married Emily Catherine Tabor. He and Emily had three children together: Susan Springer, Melinda Groom and Paul John Flory, Jr. They also had five grandchildren. All of his children pursued careers in the field of science. His first position was at DuPont with Wallace Carothers. He was posthumously inducted into the Alpha Chi Sigma Hall of Fame in 2002. Flory died on September 9, 1985, due to a massive heart attack. His wife Emily died in 2006 aged 94. After graduating from Elgin High School in Elgin, Illinois in 1927, Flory received a bachelor's degree from Manchester College (Indiana) (now Manchester University) in 1931 and a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in 1934. He completed a master's degree in organic chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Cecil E Boord. Flory then pursued his doctorate thesis in physical chemistry studying the photochemistry of nitric oxide, supervised by Prof. Herrick L. Johnston. In 1934, after receiving his Ph.D., he joined the Central Department of Dupont and Company working with Wallace H. Carothers. After the death of Carothers in 1937, Flory was involved for two years at the Basic Research Laboratory located in the University of Cincinnati.