Origins & Early Life

Melvin Ellis Calvin (April 8, 1911 – January 8, 1997) was an American biochemist known for discovering the Calvin cycle along with Andrew Benson and James Bassham. He was awarded the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his research on the carbon dioxide assimilation in plants". He spent most of his five-decade career at the University of California, Berkeley. Melvin Calvin was born in St.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Paul, Minnesota, the son of Elias Calvin and Rose Herwitz, Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire (now the countries of Lithuania and Georgia). At an early age, Melvin Calvin’s family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where his parents ran a grocery store to earn their living. Calvin was often found satisfying his curiosity by looking through all of the products that made up their shelves. After he graduated from Central High School in 1928, he went on to study at Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now known as Michigan Technological University) where he received the school’s first Bachelors of Science in Chemistry. He went on to earn his PhD at the University of Minnesota in 1935.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

While under the mentorship of George Glocker, he studied and wrote his thesis on the...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Allen Ginsberg — Contemporary (Died in 1997) (1997): Pioneering American poet, central figure of the Beat Generation, known for 'Howl'.
• Amos Tutuola — Contemporary (Died in 1997) (1997): Pioneering Nigerian author blending Yoruba folklore with modern literary forms.
• Anton LaVey — Contemporary (Died in 1997) (1997): Founder of the Church of Satan and proponent of LaVeyan Satanism.
• Andrew Irvine (mountaineer) — Shared historical date (04-08 · Born) (1902): British mountaineer famous for the 1924 Everest expedition with George Mallory.
• Antony Flew — Shared historical date (04-08 · Died) (2010): English analytic and evidentialist philosopher known for his critique of religion.
• Alexander Prokhorov — Shared historical date (01-08 · Died) (2002): Soviet physicist renowned for foundational work in quantum electronics and laser development.
• Alfred Russel Wallace — Shared historical date (01-08 · Born) (1823): Naturalist and explorer who independently conceived the theory of evolution.
• 1911 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1911
• April 8 (04-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 8
• 1997 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1997
• January 8 (01-08) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 8