Origins & Early Life

Sir William Lawrence Bragg (31 March 1890 – 1 July 1971) was an Australian-born British X-ray crystallographer who uniquely shared a Nobel Prize with his father William Henry Bragg – the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics "for their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays", an important step in the development of X-ray crystallography. As of 2025, Bragg is the youngest ever Nobel laureate in physics, or in any science category, having received the award at the age of 25. Bragg was the director of the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, when James D. Watson and Francis Crick reported the discovery of the structure of DNA in February 1953.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

William Lawrence Bragg was born on 31 March 1890 in Adelaide, South Australia, the son of William Henry Bragg (1862–1942), who was appointed Elder Professor of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Adelaide in 1885, and Gwendoline Todd (1869–1929), daughter of Charles Todd, government astronomer of South Australia. In 1900, Bragg enrolled at Queen's School, North Adelaide, followed by five years at St Peter's College, Adelaide. He went to the University of Adelaide at the age of 16 to study mathematics, chemistry...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Agatha Christie — Contemporary (Born in 1890) (1890): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
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• Charles de Gaulle — Contemporary (Born in 1890) (1890): French general and statesman who spearheaded the Free French Forces and established the Fifth Republic.
• Adriano Giannini — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Italian actor known for dubbing and roles in film and television.
• Alison Krauss — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Esteemed American bluegrass singer and musician known for her vibrant career.
• Bennett Cerf — Contemporary (Died in 1971) (1971): American publisher, author, and co-founder of Random House.
• Al Gore — Shared historical date (03-31 · Born) (1948): American politician, businessman, and leading voice on environmental issues.
• Arthur D. Levinson — Shared historical date (03-31 · Born) (1950): Prominent American businessman, former CEO of Genentech, and board member for Apple Inc.
• Babak Khorramdin — Shared historical date (07-01 · Born) (798): 9th-century Iranian revolutionary leader of the Khorram-Dinān rebellion.
• Baybars — Shared historical date (07-01 · Died) (1277): Mamluk Sultan who defeated the Mongols at Ain Jalut and crushed the Crusaders.
• 1890 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1890
• March 31 (03-31) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 31
• 1971 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1971
• July 1 (07-01) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 1