# John Howard Northrop

> American biochemist (1891-1987)

**Wikidata**: [Q106399](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106399)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Howard_Northrop)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-howard-northrop

## Summary

John Howard Northrop was born on July 5, 1891, in Yonkers[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and died on May 27, 1987, in Wickenburg[12][13][14][1][2][4][5][7][8][15][16][10]. He was a United States citizen[17][10][18].He worked as a chemist, biochemist, scientist, and university teacher[19][20][21][22][23] in the field of biochemistry. His employers included Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, and The Rockefeller University.During his career, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal, the National Medal of Science, and was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[24][25][26].

## Summary
John Howard Northrop was an American biochemist and scientist who lived from 1891 to 1987. He is best known for his groundbreaking work in isolating and crystallizing enzymes, a feat that earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His career was primarily defined by his affiliations with Columbia University and The Rockefeller University, where he advanced the field of biochemistry.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1891 (United States)
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**: Not specified in source material
- **Known for**: Isolating and crystallizing enzymes; pioneering work in biochemistry
- **Employer(s)**: Columbia University, The Rockefeller University, University of California, Berkeley
- **Field(s)**: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Science

## Contributions
Based on the provided source material, specific details regarding individual papers, patents, or the exact years of specific discoveries are not listed. However, the source confirms his primary contribution was his work as a biochemist and scientist within the field of biochemistry, which involves the study of chemical processes in living organisms. His work led to significant recognition, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal, and the National Medal of Science. He contributed to the scientific community through his roles as a university teacher and researcher at major institutions, helping to establish biochemistry as a distinct and rigorous scientific discipline.

## FAQs
**What was John Howard Northrop's primary field of study?**
John Howard Northrop specialized in biochemistry, which is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. He was also recognized broadly as a chemist and scientist who utilized scientific methods to study these areas of interest.

**Which institutions did John Howard Northrop work for during his career?**
His professional affiliations included Columbia University, a private university in New York City, and The Rockefeller University, a research institute also located in New York City. Additionally, he was associated with the University of California, Berkeley, a public university in California.

**What major awards did John Howard Northrop receive?**
He was the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, one of the five prizes established by Alfred Nobel. His other significant honors included the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the National Medal of Science.

**Was John Howard Northrop a member of any scholarly societies?**
Yes, he was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was also connected to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

## Why They Matter
John Howard Northrop's work fundamentally altered the understanding of biological catalysts by demonstrating that enzymes could be isolated and crystallized, proving they were proteins. This breakthrough bridged the gap between chemistry and biology, solidifying biochemistry as a central scientific discipline. Without his contributions, the structural analysis of enzymes and the subsequent development of modern molecular biology would have been significantly delayed. His recognition by the Nobel Committee and multiple national academies underscores his role in establishing the chemical basis of life processes.

## Notable For
- Winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on enzymes.
- Receiving the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal from the National Academy of Sciences.
- Being awarded the National Medal of Science.
- Serving as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- Being affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
- Holding the title of American biochemist (1891-1987).
- Working at The Rockefeller University, Columbia University, and the University of California, Berkeley.
- Contributing to the study of chemical processes in living organisms.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
John Howard Northrop was a human being born in 1891 and passing away in 1987. He was a citizen of the United States, a country located primarily in North America with its inception dating back to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. His nationality and professional identity were deeply rooted in the American scientific community. He is identified in records as an American biochemist, a scientist, and a chemist.

### Professional Affiliations and Career
Northrop's career was marked by significant employment at prestigious institutions. He was affiliated with Columbia University, a private university in New York City, New York, US, which was founded on May 25, 1754. He also held a position at The Rockefeller University, a research institute in New York City founded in 1901. His academic reach extended to the University of California, Berkeley, a public university in Berkeley, California, USA, which was established on March 23, 1868. In these roles, he served as a university teacher, instructing students and conducting research.

### Scientific Field and Methodology
His primary area of expertise was biochemistry, defined as the study of chemical processes in living organisms. As a scientist, he employed scientific methods to study this area of interest. His work also fell under the broader umbrella of chemistry, identifying him as a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. This multidisciplinary approach allowed him to contribute to the understanding of biological systems through chemical analysis.

### Honors and Societal Recognition
Northrop received numerous accolades for his scientific achievements. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, one of the five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Alfred Nobel. In the United States, he received the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal, an award conferred by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the National Medal of Science. His standing in the academic community was further cemented by his election as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a United States honorary society and policy research center founded on May 4, 1780.

### Membership in Learned Societies
Beyond awards, Northrop was a member of several prominent learned societies. He was associated with the National Academy of Sciences, the science branch of the United States National Academies, which was founded on March 3, 1863. He was also connected to the American Philosophical Society, an American scholarly organization and learned society established in 1743. Internationally, his work was recognized by the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the national academy of Germany, which was founded on January 1, 1652. These memberships highlight his global impact and the respect he commanded among his peers in the scientific community.

## References

1. [Northrop, John Howard](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/npg.els.0002891/pdf)
2. [John Howard Northrop. Encyclopedia of World Biography](http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404704796.html)
3. JSTOR
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6. [Nobel Prize winners by year. Encyclopædia Britannica Online](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/416856/Nobel-Prize/93434/The-prizes)
7. [Kinetics of Thermal Death of Bacteria](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC248337/)
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12. [Source](http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/northrop-john.pdf)
13. [The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1946. nobelprize.org](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1946/summary/)
14. [Table showing prize amounts. Nobel Foundation. 2019](https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2019/04/prize-amounts-2020.pdf)
15. [Source](https://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/evolution-earth-and-life.html)
16. Virtual International Authority File
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23. Croatian Encyclopedia
24. Munzinger Personen
25. [Source](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/419986/John-Howard-Northrop)
26. [Source](http://www.nndb.com/lists/034/000106713/)
27. [Source](http://www.nndb.com/lists/506/000063317/)
28. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
29. nobelprize.org
30. Library of Congress Control Number