Priestley Medal Explained

Priestley Medal
Awarded For:	Distinguished service in the field of chemistry
Presenter:	American Chemical Society (ACS)

The Priestley Medal is the highest honor conferred by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and is awarded for distinguished service in the field of chemistry.^{[1] [2] [3]} Established in 1922, the award is named after Joseph Priestley, one of the discoverers of oxygen, who immigrated to the United States of America in 1794. The ACS formed in 1876, spearheaded by a group of chemists who had met two years previously in Priestley's home.

The Priestley Medal is among the most distinguished awards in the chemical sciences, behind the Wolf Prize in Chemistry and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.^[4] Consequently, it is commonly awarded to scientists who are advanced in their fields, as it is intended to commemorate lifetime achievement.^[5] When the ACS started presenting the Priestley Medal in 1923, they intended to award it every three years. This continued until 1944, when it became an annual award.

Recipients

^[6]

1920s

• 1923 Ira Remsen^[7]
• 1926 Edgar Fahs Smith
• 1929 Francis P. Garvan^[8]

1930s

• 1932 Charles L. Parsons
• 1935 William A. Noyes^[9]
• 1938 Marston T. Bogert

1940s

• 1941 Thomas Midgley Jr.^[10]
• 1944 James Bryant Conant^[11]
• 1945 Ian Heilbron^[12]
• 1946 Roger Adams^[13]
• 1947 Warren K. Lewis^[14]
• 1948 Edward R. Weidlein^[15]
• 1949 Arthur B. Lamb^[16]

1950s

• 1950 Charles A. Kraus
• 1951 E. J. Crane^[17]
• 1952 Samuel C. Lind
• 1953 Sir Robert Robinson^[18]
• 1954 W. Albert Noyes Jr. (son of William A. Noyes)
• 1955 Charles A. Thomas
• 1956 Carl S. Marvel
• 1957 Farrington Daniels
• 1958 Ernest H. Volwiler
• 1959 Hermann Irving Schlesinger

1960s

• 1960 Wallace R. Brode
• 1961 Louis Plack Hammett
• 1962 Joel H. Hildebrand^[19]
• 1963 Peter Debye^[20]
• 1964 John C. Bailar Jr.
• 1965 William J. Sparks
• 1966 William O. Baker
• 1967 Ralph Connor
• 1968 William G. Young
• 1969 Kenneth S. Pitzer^[21]

1970s

• 1970 Max Tishler^[22]
• 1971 Frederick D. Rossini
• 1972 George B. Kistiakowsky^[23]
• 1973 Harold C. Urey^[24]
• 1974 Paul J. Flory
• 1975 Henry Eyring
• 1976 George S. Hammond
• 1977 Henry Gilman
• 1978 Melvin Calvin^[25]
• 1979 Glenn T. Seaborg^[26]

1980s

• 1980 Milton Harris
• 1981 Herbert C. Brown
• 1982 Bryce Crawford
• 1983 Robert S. Mulliken
• 1984 Linus Pauling^[27]
• 1985 Henry Taube
• 1986 Karl A. Folkers
• 1987 John D. Roberts
• 1988 Frank H. Westheimer^[28]
• 1989 George C. Pimentel^[29]

1990s

• 1990 Roald Hoffmann^[30]
• 1991 Harry B. Gray^[31]
• 1992 Carl Djerassi^[32]
• 1993 Robert W. Parry^[33]
• 1994 Howard E. Simmons^[34]
• 1995 Sir Derek H. R. Barton^[35]
• 1996 Ernest L. Eliel^[36]
• 1997 Mary L. Good^[37]
• 1998 F. Albert Cotton^[38]
• 1999 Ronald Breslow^[39]

2000s

• 2000 Darleane C. Hoffman^[40]
• 2001 Fred Basolo^[41]
• 2002 Allen J. Bard^[42]
• 2003 Edwin J. Vandenberg^[43]
• 2004 Elias J. Corey^[44]
• 2005 George A. Olah^[45]
• 2006 Paul S. Anderson^[46]
• 2007 George M. Whitesides^[47]
• 2008 Gabor A. Somorjai^[48]
• 2009 M. Frederick Hawthorne^[49]

2010s

• 2010 Richard Zare^[50]
• 2011 Ahmed H. Zewail^[51]
• 2012 Robert S. Langer^[52]
• 2013 Peter J. Stang^[53]
• 2014 Stephen J. Lippard^[54]
• 2015 Jacqueline Barton^[55]
• 2016 Mostafa El-Sayed^[56]
• 2017 Tobin J. Marks^[57]
• 2018 Geraldine L. Richmond^[58]
• 2019 Karl Barry Sharpless^{[59] [60] [61]}

2020s

• 2020 JoAnne Stubbe^[62]
• 2021 A. Paul Alivisatos^[63]
• 2022 Peter B. Dervan^[64]
• 2023 Cato T. Laurencin^[65]
• 2024 Carolyn Bertozzi^[66]

See also

• List of chemistry awards

References

1. Web site: Priestley Medal . Funding & Awards . . 2013-06-10 .
2. Book: Schofield, Robert E. . The Enlightened Joseph Priestley: A Study of His Life and Work from 1773 to 1804 . limited . . 2004 . 372 . 978-0-271-02459-2 .
3. Book: Bowden, Mary Ellen . Rosner . Lisa . Joseph Priestley, Radical Thinker . . 2005 . 16 . 978-0-941901-38-3 .
4. Web site: IREG List of International Academic Awards . . 2019. . 4 March 2023.
5. Web site: 85th Anniversary of the Priestley Medal. Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society . 2008-04-07 . 2013-06-10 . Raber . Linda R..
6. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: ACS News – The Priestley Medalists, 1923–2008. Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
7. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1923: Ira Remsen (1846–1927). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
8. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1929: Francis P. Garvan (1875–1937). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
9. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1935: William Albert Noyes (1857–1941) and 1954: W. Albert Noyes Jr. (1898–1980). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
10. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1941: Thomas Midgley Jr. (1889–1944). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
11. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1944: James Bryant Conant (1893–1978). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
12. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1945: Ian Morris Heilbron (1886–1959). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
13. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1946: Roger Adams (1889–1971). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
14. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1947: Warren K. Lewis (1882–1975). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
15. News: E. R. Weidlein dies, smoke control pioneer . 1983-08-17 . . 10 . Golightly . John . . 2024-02-20.
16. The Cover . . .. Chemical & Engineering News. 27. 40. 1949. 2840. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v027n040.p2840.
17. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal - 1951: Evan J. Crane (1889-1966). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
18. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1953: Sir Robert Robinson (1886–1975). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
19. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1962: Joel H. Hildebrand (1881–1983). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
20. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1963: Peter J. W. Debye (1884–1966). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
21. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1969: Kenneth S. Pitzer (1914–1997). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
22. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1970: Max Tishler (1906–1989). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
23. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1972: George B. Kistiakowsky (1900–1982). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
24. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1973: Harold C. Urey (1893–1981). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
25. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1978: Melvin Calvin (1911–1997). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
26. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1979: Glenn T. Seaborg (1912–1999). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
27. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal – 1984: Linus C. Pauling (1901–1994). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
28. ACS 1988 National Award Winners. Chemical & Engineering News. 65. 35. 1987. 48. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v065n035.p048. free.
29. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: The Priestly Medal - 1989: George C. Pimentel (1922-1989). Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
30. ACS 1990 National Award Winners. Chemical & Engineering News. 67. 37. 1989. 32. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v067n037.p032.
31. Baum. Ruby M.. Caltech's Harry B. Gray Wins ACS's Highest Award in Chemistry. Chemical & Engineering News. 68. 23. 1990. 25–27. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v068n023.p025.
32. Baum. Rudy M.. PRIESTLEY MEDAL. Chemical & Engineering News. 69. 22. 1991. 28–31. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v069n022.p028.
33. Dagani. Ron. University of Utah's Robert W. Parry Wins 1993 Priestley Medal. Chemical & Engineering News. 70. 21. 1992. 21–22. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v070n021.p021.
34. Basic Research: A Perspective. Chemical & Engineering News. 72. 11. 1994. 27–31. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v072n011.p027.
35. Dagani. Ron. Texas A&M's Derek H. R. Barton Wins 1995 Priestley Medal. Chemical & Engineering News. 72. 21. 1994. 39. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v072n021.p039.
36. Baum. Rudy M.. PRIESTLEY MEDAL. Chemical & Engineering News. 73. 20. 1995. 37–39. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v073n020.p037.
37. Long. Janice R.. Mary Lowe Good To Receive 1997 Priestley Medal. Chemical & Engineering News. 74. 20. 1996. 36. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v074n020.p036.
38. Dagani. Ron. Cotton to Receive Priestley Medal. Rawls. Rebecca. Chemical & Engineering News. 75. 16. 1997. 9. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v075n016.p009.
39. Web site: PRIESTLEY MEDAL PROFILE. 3 March 2016.
40. Web site: PRIESTLEY MEDAL PROFILE: SMALL-TOWN IOWA GIRL MAKES GOOD. 3 March 2016.
41. Web site: C&EN: COVER STORY – PRIESTLY MEDALIST – A CHEMIST FROM COELLO. 3 March 2016.
42. Web site: C&EN: NEWS OF THE WEEK: PRIESTLEY MEDAL GOES TO BARD. 3 March 2016.
43. Web site: C&EN: PRIESTLEY MEDALIST – A POLYMER MAN'S HERCULEAN EFFORT. 3 March 2016.
44. Web site: ABOVE AND BEYOND ORGANIC SYNTHESIS. A. MAUREEN ROUHI, C&EN WASHINGTON. 3 March 2016.
45. Web site: C&EN: LATEST NEWS – OLAH WINS 2005 PRIESTLEY MEDAL. 3 March 2016.
46. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News. Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
47. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: Cover Story – Always On The Move. Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
48. Web site: Chemical & Engineering News: Cover Story – Surface Science's Sage. Chemical & Engineering News. 3 March 2016.
49. Web site: The 2009 Priestley Medal. Rudy Baum. 3 March 2016.
50. Web site: Bubbling With Enthusiasm. Celia Henry Arnaud. 3 March 2016.
51. Jacoby. Mitch. Zewail Wins 2011 Priestley Medal. Reisch. Marc. Chemical & Engineering News. 88. 25. 2010. 5. 0009-2347. 10.1021/cen-v088n025.p005.
52. Web site: Robert Langer wins top chemistry award. Melanie L Miller - Chemical engineering. 21 June 2011. MIT News. 3 March 2016.
53. Web site: Peter J. Stang Named Priestley Medalist. Elizabeth K. Wilson. 3 March 2016.
54. Web site: Stephen Lippard Named Priestley Medalist . Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society . 2013-06-10. 2013-06-10. Halford . Bethany.
55. Web site: Jacqueline Barton Named Priestley Medalist . Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society . 2014-06-10. 2013-06-12. Wilson . Elizabeth K..
56. Web site: GT Georgia Institute of Technology – News Center – Mostafa El-Sayed Wins 2016 Priestley Medal. www.news.gatech.edu. 2015-08-19.
57. Web site: Tobin Marks Wins Priestley Medal . Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society . 2016-06-20. 2016-06-20. Wilson . Elizabeth K..
58. Web site: Geraldine Richmond named 2018 Priestley Medalist . Chemical & Engineering News . American Chemical Society . 2017-06-07. 2017-06-08. Kemsley . Jyllian.
59. Web site: 2019 Priestley Medal goes to K. Barry Sharpless Scripps Research. www.scripps.edu. 2019-04-08.
60. Web site: 2019 Priestley Medalist K. Barry Sharpless works magic in the world of molecules. Chemical & Engineering News. en. 2019-04-08.
61. Web site: K. Barry Sharpless named 2019 Priestley Medalist. Chemical & Engineering News. en. 2019-04-08.
62. Web site: JoAnne Stubbe Named 2020 Priestley Medalist. Celia Henry Arnaud. 19 June 2019.
63. https://cen.acs.org/people/awards/Paul-Alivisatos-named-2021-Priestley-Medalist/98/i25 Paul Alivisatos Named 2021 Priestley Medalist
64. https://cen.acs.org/people/awards/Peter-Dervan-named-2022-Priestley/99/i24 Peter Dervan Named 2022 Priestley Medalist
65. News: Cato T. Laurencin named 2023 Priestley Medalist . cen.acs.org.
66. News: Carolyn Bertozzi awarded the 2024 ACS Priestley Medal . American Chemical Society . en.

Further reading

• Charles L. Parsons . Priestley memorial and medal . 10.1021/ed009p643 . Journal of Chemical Education . 9 . 4 . 643. 1932 . 1932JChEd...9..643P.

External links

• The Priestley Society