Jacobus Henricus Van 't Hoff

Van 't Hoff was born at Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the son of a physician. From a young age he was interested in science and nature; he frequently took part in botanical excursions, and his receptiveness for philosophy and his predilection for poetry were already apparent in his early school years.

He studied at Delft Polytechnic and the University of Leiden. He finally received his doctorate at the University of Utrecht in 1874.

In 1874 van ‘t Hoff published a paper entitled A Suggestion Looking to the Extension into Space of the Structural Formulas at Present Used in Chemistry, which effectively created a new branch of science – stereochemistry.

Van ‘t Hoff helped to found the discipline of physical chemistry as many people known it today.

Van ‘t Hoff became a lecturer in chemistry and physics at the Veterinary College in Utrecht.

He then became a professor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology at the University of Amsterdam for almost 18 years before eventually becoming the chairman and the chemistry department.

In 1896 van ‘t Hoff moved to Germany where he finished his career at the University of Berlin in 1911.
In 1901 van 't Hoff was awarded the first Nobel Prize for chemistry.
Jacobus Henricus Van 't Hoff