Scholar Profile: Percy Lavon Julian (1899–1975)
Percy Lavon Julian was a titan of 20th-century organic chemistry whose work fundamentally altered the accessibility of modern medicine. A pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants, Julian laid the foundation for the production of cortisone, hormone treatments, and birth control pills. His career was a masterclass in scientific resilience, as he dismantled systemic racial barriers to become one of the most influential chemists in American history.
1. Biography: From the Jim Crow South to the Global Stage
Early Life and Education
Percy Lavon Julian was born on April 11, 1899, in Montgomery, Alabama. The grandson of enslaved people, Julian grew up in a society defined by Jim Crow laws. Despite the lack of public high schools for Black students in his area, his family prioritized education. He applied to DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he was accepted as a "sub-freshman," requiring him to take high school-level courses alongside his college curriculum.
At DePauw, Julian was not allowed to live in the dormitories or eat in the common halls due to his race. Undeterred, he graduated in 1920 as the class valedictorian and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Academic and Career Trajectory
Julian earned a master’s degree from Harvard University in 1923 but was denied a teaching assistantship (and thus the ability to pursue a PhD there) because the university feared white students would not want to be taught by a Black instructor. He eventually secured a fellowship at the University of Vienna, studying under the renowned chemist Ernst Späth. He received his PhD in 1931, specializing in the chemistry of medicinal plants.
Upon returning to the U.S., Julian faced continued discrimination in academia. After a brief tenure at Howard University and a research position back at DePauw, he transitioned to the private sector—a move that was nearly unheard of for Black scientists at the time. In 1936, he was hired as the Director of Research for the Soya Products Division at the Glidden Company in Chicago.
2. Major Contributions: The "Soybean Chemist"
Julian’s work centered on the synthesis of complex organic compounds from abundant plant sources, moving medicine away from expensive animal-derived extracts.
- Synthesis of Physostigmine (1935): Working at DePauw with his colleague Josef Pikl, Julian achieved the first total synthesis of physostigmine, a drug found in the Calabar bean used to treat glaucoma. This was a landmark achievement because he corrected the erroneous findings of Sir Robert Robinson, a future Nobel laureate at Oxford, proving Julian’s superior methodology.
- Progesterone and Testosterone: At Glidden, Julian developed a process to extract sterols from soybean oil and synthesize the hormones progesterone and testosterone in bulk. This made these hormones—previously expensive and rare—affordable for medical use, including the treatment of menstrual disorders and infertility.
- Hydrocortisone Synthesis: Perhaps his most famous contribution was the synthesis of "Compound S" (11-deoxycortisol), a major step in the production of cortisone. By using soy sterols, he bypassed the need for expensive bile from slaughtered cattle, dropping the price of cortisone from hundreds of dollars per gram to just cents. This revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Aero-Foam ("Bean Soup"): During World War II, Julian developed a soy-protein-based fire-extinguishing foam. Adopted by the U.S. Navy, "Aero-Foam" was used to extinguish gasoline and oil fires on aircraft carriers, saving countless lives.
3. Notable Publications
Julian authored over 160 publications. His most significant works include:
- "Studies in the Indole Series V. The Complete Synthesis of Physostigmine" (Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1935): This paper solidified his reputation by detailing the total synthesis of the glaucoma drug and correcting the work of the global chemical establishment.
- "Sterols. VII. Oxidation of Sitosterol Esters" (Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1940): This work detailed the methods for converting plant sterols into hormonal precursors.
- "The Properties of the Internal Glucoside of 11-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone" (1950s): Part of a series of papers that paved the way for the mass production of corticosteroids.
4. Awards & Recognition
Despite the systemic racism of his era, Julian’s brilliance was eventually recognized by the highest levels of the scientific community:
- Spingarn Medal (1947): Awarded by the NAACP for his outstanding achievements as a chemist.
- National Academy of Sciences (1973): Julian was the second Black scientist ever elected to this prestigious body.
- Honorary Degrees: He received over 15 honorary doctorates from institutions including DePauw, Howard, and Oberlin College.
- U.S. Postal Service Stamp (1993): Honored with a commemorative Black Heritage stamp.
- National Chemical Landmark (1999): The American Chemical Society designated his synthesis of physostigmine as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.
5. Impact & Legacy
Percy Julian’s legacy is twofold: scientific and social.
Scientific Impact
He democratized medicine. By finding ways to synthesize hormones and steroids from plants (soybeans and later wild Mexican yams), he turned "miracle drugs" into commodity products available to the general public. His work was foundational for the development of the birth control pill and modern hydrocortisone creams.
Social Impact
Julian was a civil rights activist who used his wealth and platform to fight for equality. He served on the board of the NAACP and founded the Council for Equal Business Opportunity. His success as an entrepreneur—founding Julian Laboratories in 1953 after leaving Glidden—proved that Black scientists could thrive in the competitive world of industrial chemistry.
6. Collaborations
- Josef Pikl: A fellow student from Vienna whom Julian brought to DePauw. Their partnership was essential for the physostigmine synthesis.
- Ernst Späth: His doctoral advisor in Vienna, who fostered an environment of intellectual freedom that Julian found lacking in the United States.
- The Glidden Company: While a corporate entity, Julian’s leadership of their research team was a rare example of a Black man managing a large group of white scientists in the 1930s and 40s.
7. Lesser-Known Facts
- The Firebombing of His Home: In 1950, shortly after Julian moved his family into the affluent, white neighborhood of Oak Park, Illinois, his home was firebombed. A year later, it was attacked with dynamite. Julian famously sat on his front porch with a shotgun to protect his family, refusing to be intimidated into leaving.
- The "Bean Soup" Nickname: The Aero-Foam he invented for the Navy was affectionately called "bean soup" by sailors because of its soy-based origin.
- A Millionaire Entrepreneur: When Julian sold Julian Laboratories to Smith, Kline & French in 1961, he became one of the first Black millionaires in the United States, a testament to the commercial viability of his chemical patents.
- Denied a Job by the City: Before being hired by Glidden, Julian was rejected for a position at the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin, because a city ordinance prohibited Black people from staying overnight.