Origins & Early Life

Henry Taube (November 30, 1915 – November 16, 2005) was a Canadian-born American chemist who was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for "his work in the mechanisms of electron-transfer reactions, especially in metal complexes." He was the second Canadian-born chemist to win the Nobel Prize, and remains the only Saskatchewanian-born Nobel laureate. Taube completed his undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of Saskatchewan, and his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. After finishing graduate school, Taube worked at Cornell University, the University of Chicago and Stanford University. In addition to the Nobel Prize, Taube also received many other major scientific awards, including the Priestley Medal in 1985 and two Guggenheim Fellowships early in his career (1949 and 1955), as well as numerous honorary doctorates.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His research focused on redox reactions, transition metals and the use of isotopically labeled compounds to follow reactions. He had over 600 publications including one book, and had mentored over 200 students during his career. Taube and his wife Mary had three children; his son Karl is an anthropologist at the University of California...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. A. K. Niazi — Contemporary (Born in 1915) (1915): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Abba Eban — Contemporary (Born in 1915) (1915): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• Alan Watts — Contemporary (Born in 1915) (1915): Philosopher and lecturer popularizing Eastern thought for the West.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Died in 2005) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances.
• Anthony Barber — Contemporary (Died in 2005) (2005): British Conservative politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1970-1974)
• Arthur Miller — Contemporary (Died in 2005) (2005): A towering figure of 20th-century American theater and essayist.
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Shared historical date (11-30 · Died) (1988): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and deeply engaging vocal style.
• Ali Hassan al-Majid — Shared historical date (11-30 · Born) (1941): Notorious Iraqi military figure, cousin of Saddam Hussein, known for brutal repression.
• Carl von Clausewitz — Shared historical date (11-16 · Died) (1831): Prussian military theorist whose work, On War, shaped modern strategic thought.
• Charles Maurras — Shared historical date (11-16 · Died) (1952): Influential French philosopher, poet, and political theorist of integral nationalism.
• 1915 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1915
• November 30 (11-30) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 30
• 2005 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2005
• November 16 (11-16) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 16