JSM - Edition Two

L ouis P asteur Louis Pasteur was a famous French chemist and microbiologist. His research helped us gain a greater understanding of germs and bacteria. He created many vaccines to help people because diseases spread very quickly back in the 1800’s. He also discovered pasteurization and the nature of diseases. Smart or Stupid? Louis Pasteur was born on December 27, 1822 in Dole, France. His star sign was a Capricorn. Other eminent individuals that share his star sign are Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking and Louis Braille. Isaac Newton was most famous for his discoveries in optics, motion and mathematics. Stephen Hawking has done amazing work in physics and cosmology and is well known for his work on black holes. Louis Braille invented a system of raised dots that enables blind people to read and write. He was the third child of Jean-Joseph Pasteur and Jeanne-Etiennette Roqui. Louis’ mother was the daughter of a gardener. Louis’ father was a tanner and he also served as a soldier for France and its Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. He grew up in the French town of Arbois and loved to play and fish in a river near his house. As a child, Louis Pasteur was not an outstanding student during his years of elementary education. He wasn’t very good at Math or English but he was brilliant at art and science. Louis Pasteur’s teacher said he asked too many questions and was useless so he had to be home-schooled. His father did not wish to see his son ending up as an artist and he wanted him to complete his education in the local schools and become a professor in the college at Arbois.

College and Career Recognizing Pasteur’s growing passion for chemistry and other scientific subjects, the Headmaster of the College convinced Pasteur’s father to send him to the École Normale Supérieur, the prestigious French University aimed at training outstanding students for University careers in Science. The following year, Pasteur was admitted to this famous college. On Sundays he visited a well known chemist Dumas. It was Dumas who inspired Pasteur to have a career as a chemist. He earned his Master of Science in 1845. A famous chemist called Balard took Louis on as an assistant. In Balard’s laboratory Louis chose to study crystals and discovered why some crystals bend light and others do not. One obstacle that Louis had to overcome was when his mother died. Although he wanted to continue with his research he had to get a job as a school teacher close to his fathers house so he could help support his family.

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JSM Edition Two

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