16 Facts About Adrien Albert

Adrien Albert was a leading authority in the development of medicinal chemistry in Australia.

Adrien Albert's father, Jacques Albert, was a businessman in the music industry, and took a bride many years his junior; Mary Eliza Blanche.

Adrien Albert had two much older half brothers, stemming from his father's previous marriage.

Adrien Albert attended schools in Randwick and Coogee, but soon settled into the Scots College in Sydney where he excelled in both music and science.

Adrien Albert was expected to join the family music-publishing business and while he maintained a lifelong love of music, he was more drawn towards the sciences.

Adrien Albert was awarded BSc with first class honours and the University Medal in 1932 at the University of Sydney.

Adrien Albert gained a PhD in 1937 and a DSc in 1947 from the University of London.

Adrien Albert's appointments included Lecturer at the University of Sydney, advisor to the Medical Directorate of the Australian Army, research at the Wellcome Research Institute in London and in 1948 the Foundation Chair of Medical Chemistry in the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University in Canberra where he established the Department of Medical Chemistry.

Adrien Albert was known for his molecular approach to chemical pharmacology, which was more accepted in the USA compared to Europe at that time.

Adrien Albert travelled extensively and acted as a sort of roving ambassador for Australian science.

Adrien Albert devoted his life to research: he did not like administrative work, and he only made himself available for lectures in the beginning and end parts of his academic career.

Adrien Albert was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 1989 Australia Day Honours for "services to medical chemistry, particularly in the fields of teaching and research".

Adrien Albert was a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Adrien Albert never married, explaining that having a family would take time away from his research.

Fluent in French, German and Italian, Adrien Albert loved music and could play the piano very well, although he ceased to do so later in life.

Adrien Albert enjoyed botany, particularly exotic flowers and had an extensive knowledge of native Australian plants.