Paul Hermann Müller

Paul Hermann Müller, also known as Pauly Mueller (12 January 1899 – 13 October 1965), was a Swiss chemist who received the 1948 Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine for his 1939 discovery of insecticidal qualities and use of DDT in the control of vector diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.

Early life and education

Müller was born on 12 January 1899 in Olten, Solothurn, to Gottlieb and Fanny (née Leypoldt or Leypold ) Müller. He was the oldest of four children. He graduated summa cum laude.

In addition to the 1948 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, Müller received an honorary doctorate from the University of Thessalonica in Greece in recognition of DDT's impact on the Mediterranean region. He retired from Geigy in 1961, continuing his research in a home laboratory.

Müller died in the early morning of 13 October 1965 in Basel, after a short illness, surrounded by family.

Honors

Müller received many honors in his life, among them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Specifically Greece honored him for the near elimination of malaria in the country as a result of his discovery. In 1963, he was invited to Greece and received with great sympathy and celebrated as national hero.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1948 Honorary member of the "Swiss Nature Research Society" 1949 Honorary member of the "Paris Society of Industrial Chemistry" 1949 Honorary member of the "Reale Accademia Internazionale del Parnaso (Napoli)" 1951 Medal of Honour of the "Congrès Internationale de Phytopharmacie et Phytiatrie (Paris)" 1952 Honorary member of the "Academia Brasileira de Medicina Militar (Rio de Janeiro)" 1954 Honorary doctorate at the Universidad Nacional Eva Perón Honorary professorship at the "Escuela Superior Tecnica e Investigacion Cientifica (Buenos Aires)" Honorary doctorate at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 1963 Golden medal of the city of Thessaloniki 1963

Publications