16 Facts About Carl Bosch

Carl Bosch was a pioneer in the field of high-pressure industrial chemistry and founder of IG Farben, at one point the world's largest chemical company.

Carl Bosch was born in Cologne to a successful gas and plumbing supplier.

Carl Bosch's father was Carl Friedrich Alexander Bosch and his uncle was Robert Bosch, who pioneered the development of the spark plug and founded the multinational company Bosch.

Carl Bosch, trying to decide between a career in metallurgy or chemistry, studied at the Koniglich Technische Hochschule in Charlottenburg and the University of Leipzig from 1892 to 1898.

Carl Bosch attended the University of Leipzig, and this is where he studied under Johannes Wislicenus, and he obtained his doctorate in 1898 for research in organic chemistry.

Carl Bosch was responsible for finding a more practical catalyst than the scarce osmium and expensive uranium being used by Haber.

In 1925 Carl Bosch helped found IG Farben, and was the first head of the company.

From 1935, Carl Bosch was chairman of the board of directors.

Carl Bosch received the Siemens-Ring in 1924 for his contributions to applied research and his support of basic research.

In December 1933, Carl Bosch received a contract to expand the production of synthetic oil, a development which was essential to Adolf Hitler's future war plans.

Carl Bosch was an ardent collector of insects, minerals, and gems.

Carl Bosch's collected meteorites and other mineral samples were loaned to Yale University, and eventually purchased by the Smithsonian.

Carl Bosch was an amateur astronomer with a well-equipped private observatory.

Carl Bosch won numerous awards including an honorary doctorate from Technische Hochschule Karlsruhe, the Liebig Memorial Medal of the Association of German Chemists along with the Bunsen Medal of the German Bunsen Society, the Siemens Ring, and the Golden Grashof Memorial medal of the VDI.

Carl Bosch received the Exner medal from the Austrian Trade Association and the Carl Lueg Memorial Medal.

Carl Bosch enjoyed his membership of various German and foreign scientific academics, and his chairmanship of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society of which he became the President in 1937.