Percy Julian: The Pioneering Chemist Who Revolutionized Steroid Production

Early Life and Education

Percy Lavon Julian was born in 1899 in Montgomery, Alabama, at a time when African Americans in the South lived under the oppressive Jim Crow system of forced segregation. Despite the limited educational opportunities available to black children at the time, Julian's parents instilled in him a love of learning and belief in the power of education.

With barely a 10th grade education, Julian became the first in his family to attend college when he enrolled at DePauw University in Indiana in 1916. Though he faced discrimination and challenges as one of the few black students, Julian excelled academically. He graduated as valedictorian in 1920.

Julian dreamed of becoming a research chemist, but racial barriers made it difficult for him to pursue graduate studies. After teaching for several years, he was finally able to attend Harvard University in 1923, earning his master's degree. However, he left Harvard without completing his Ph.D. when he was denied a teaching assistantship, likely due to his race.

In 1929, Julian received a fellowship to study at the University of Vienna, where he finally earned his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1931. His time in Vienna allowed Julian to fully immerse himself in research for the first time, free from the racial discrimination he faced in America.

Groundbreaking Work at Glidden

After returning to the U.S., Julian struggled to find academic positions commensurate with his qualifications due to racial discrimination. In 1936, he finally caught a break when the Glidden Company hired him as the director of research for their Soya Products Division.

At Glidden, Julian began groundbreaking work isolating and synthesizing plant-based compounds, particularly steroids from soybeans. Some of his key accomplishments included:

• Developing a process to isolate and mass-produce soy protein, which was used in paper coatings and fire-fighting foam
• Synthesizing the hormone progesterone from plant sterols on an industrial scale
• Creating a method to produce the compound stigmasterol, a key building block for making human steroid hormones

Julian's work laid the foundation for the mass production of synthetic hormones and steroids, making treatments for conditions like arthritis and glaucoma more widely available and affordable.

The Race to Synthesize Cortisone

In 1949, researchers at the Mayo Clinic announced that a new drug called cortisone showed remarkable effects in treating rheumatoid arthritis. This sparked an intense race among chemists to find ways to synthesize cortisone efficiently.

Julian threw himself into this challenge, working to convert a compound called Reichstein's Substance S into cortisone. While he was not ultimately successful in completing the final step, Julian's method for mass-producing Substance S became a key part of cortisone production when other researchers discovered a way to convert it using microorganisms.

Despite the importance of Julian's contributions, Glidden decided to exit the steroid business in 1953. Frustrated by this decision, Julian left the company to start his own firm, Julian Laboratories.

Entrepreneurship and Later Career

At Julian Laboratories, Percy Julian continued his work on steroid intermediates, selling them to pharmaceutical companies. He faced stiff competition and obstacles, including attempts by rivals to block his access to raw materials. Nevertheless, Julian persevered and built his company into a success.

In addition to his scientific work, Julian became increasingly involved in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s. He used his position and wealth to support organizations like the NAACP and spoke out against racial discrimination.

Julian received numerous honors later in life, including election to the National Academy of Sciences in 1973 - only the second African American to receive this recognition. He continued his scientific pursuits until his death in 1975 at the age of 76.

Scientific Legacy

Percy Julian's work had a profound impact on chemistry and medicine:

• His methods for isolating and synthesizing plant-based steroids laid the groundwork for the mass production of steroid medications
• Julian's synthesis of physostigmine was recognized as one of the top 25 achievements in American chemistry in the 20th century
• His work on soybean protein led to numerous industrial applications
• Julian was awarded over 130 chemical patents during his career

Beyond his scientific contributions, Julian served as an inspiration to generations of African American scientists, showing what was possible to achieve even in the face of discrimination and limited opportunities.

Overcoming Racial Barriers

Throughout his life and career, Percy Julian faced numerous obstacles due to racial prejudice:

• As a student, he was denied housing in college dorms and had to work as a waiter to afford room and board
• After completing his Ph.D., he struggled to find academic positions despite his qualifications
• When he purchased a home in the white suburb of Oak Park, Illinois in 1950, his house was firebombed in an attempt to drive the family out
• Even as a successful chemist and businessman, Julian continued to face discrimination at professional conferences and in daily life

Despite these challenges, Julian persevered through determination and excellence in his work. He believed strongly in the power of education and achievement to overcome racial barriers.

Impact on Steroid Production

One of Percy Julian's most significant contributions was developing methods to produce steroids from plants on an industrial scale. Some key aspects of this work included:

• Isolating plant sterols like stigmasterol from soybean oil
• Converting plant sterols into progesterone and other human hormones
• Synthesizing Substance S as a precursor to cortisone
• Improving yields and lowering costs of steroid production

Julian's innovations helped make steroid medications more widely available and affordable. His work formed the basis for the production of birth control pills, cortisone, and other important drugs.

Scientific Approach and Skills

As a chemist, Percy Julian was known for his creativity, persistence, and ability to solve complex problems. Some of the skills and approaches that contributed to his success included:

• A deep understanding of organic chemistry and plant biochemistry
• The ability to envision and execute multi-step chemical syntheses
• A knack for finding elegant, efficient solutions to chemical challenges
• Determination to overcome setbacks and continue pursuing difficult research goals
• Skills in scaling up laboratory processes for industrial production

Julian combined scientific brilliance with practical problem-solving abilities, allowing him to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications.

Inspiring Future Generations

Percy Julian's career opened doors for other African American scientists and served as an inspiration to many:

• He hired and mentored numerous black chemists at Glidden and Julian Laboratories when opportunities were limited elsewhere
• Julian spoke frequently about the importance of education and excellence in overcoming racial barriers
• His success demonstrated what African Americans could achieve in science given the opportunity
• Julian used his position to advocate for civil rights and equal opportunities in education and employment

Today, Percy Julian is remembered not only for his scientific achievements, but as a pioneer who helped pave the way for greater diversity in the chemical sciences and other STEM fields.

Conclusion

Percy Julian's life and career exemplify both the challenges faced by African Americans in science during the mid-20th century and the potential for brilliance and achievement when those barriers are overcome. Despite facing discrimination at every stage of his career, Julian persevered to become one of the most accomplished chemists of his era.

His innovations in synthesizing plant-based steroids had a transformative impact on the pharmaceutical industry, making life-saving medications more accessible to millions. At the same time, Julian's success as a chemist and entrepreneur helped break down racial barriers and inspire future generations of scientists from underrepresented backgrounds.

While progress has been made since Julian's time, his story remains relevant today as society continues to grapple with issues of diversity and equal opportunity in science and other fields. Percy Julian's legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of nurturing talent and potential regardless of race or background, and the great things that can be achieved when artificial barriers are removed.

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