Percy Julian

Percy Julian – Life, Legacy, and Lessons

Percy Lavon Julian (1899–1975) was a pioneering American chemist and entrepreneur who synthesized medicinal steroids from plants, held over 130 patents, and broke racial barriers. Explore his life, work, and enduring influence.

Introduction

Percy Lavon Julian was an extraordinary chemist, inventor, and businessman. Though born into segregation, he rose to become one of the most influential chemical innovators of the 20th century. Julian’s work in synthesizing medicinal compounds from plant materials—including hormones, steroids, and cortisone precursors—helped bring life-saving treatments within reach for many. He also ventured into industry, founded companies, and persisted against deep racial discrimination. His story is one of scientific brilliance, perseverance, and legacy.

Early Life & Family

• Percy Julian was born on April 11, 1899, in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.

• He was the eldest of six children of James Sumner Julian (a postal clerk) and Elizabeth Lena Adams Julian (a schoolteacher)

• His grandparents had been enslaved, and Julian grew up in a deeply segregated environment.

• Because public high schools for Black students were scarce, Julian completed only schooling through the eighth grade in Montgomery.

• To advance his education, Julian moved north to pursue both high school and college simultaneously, enrolling at DePauw University in Indiana.

At DePauw, he confronted racism directly: he was initially denied residence in college housing and sometimes had to work menial jobs (furnace room, waiting tables) to live and eat on campus. Julian graduated in 1920 as valedictorian, earning a B.A. in chemistry and Phi Beta Kappa membership.

Education & Academic Beginnings

• After DePauw, Julian received a fellowship to attend Harvard University, where he earned his M.S. (Master of Science) in chemistry.

• Harvard initially planned to appoint him as a teaching assistant, but rescinded due to opposition to a Black instructor teaching white students.

• He then secured a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship, enabling him to study in Europe. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Vienna in 1931 under Ernst Späth.

• After returning to the U.S., he served briefly on the faculty at Howard University.

Scientific and Industrial Career

Julian’s scientific work focused largely on natural product chemistry—isolating active compounds in plants and synthesizing them for medicinal use.

Key Scientific Contributions

• Physostigmine (Eserine) synthesis
  In 1935, Julian and collaborator Josef Pikl accomplished the first total synthesis of physostigmine, a drug used to treat glaucoma. This was a landmark achievement because previously physostigmine had only been available from the Calabar bean.

• Steroid / hormone synthesis from plant sterols
  Julian pioneered processes to convert plant sterols (such as stigmasterol and sitosterol, abundant in soybeans) into human hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, and intermediates of cortisone and corticosteroids. His methods made steroid precursors much more affordable and accessible, influencing the pharmaceutical industry.

• Industrial scale fermentation / extraction
  Julian designed and supervised the first large-scale plant for producing industrial-grade isolated soy protein from defatted soybean meal. This soy protein was later integral in producing firefighting foam (Aerofoam) used during World War II to suppress oil and gasoline fires aboard Navy ships.

Business & Entrepreneurship

• In 1936, Julian joined Glidden Company as Director of Research for their Soya Products Division.

• Under Glidden, he led work on steroid intermediates, especially his pathways to cortisone precursors.

• In 1953, Julian left Glidden and established Julian Laboratories, Inc., taking over a small chemical plant and expanding operations.

• Julian Laboratories competed in supplying progesterone and other steroid intermediates, contracting with major pharmaceutical firms.

• He eventually sold parts of his business, and later founded Julian Associates and the Julian Research Institute which he directed until his death.

Challenges & Social Context

Julian’s career unfolded against the backdrop of systemic racism and segregation in the U.S. He faced many obstacles:

• Despite his credentials, he was often excluded from academic and industrial positions because he was Black.

• At DePauw, the Board refused to grant him a professorship despite his research success.

• After moving to Oak Park, Illinois, his family became the first Black residents of their neighborhood; their home was attacked (e.g. bombed) in 1950–1951.

• Julian used both science and quiet activism to push for inclusion and mentor younger Black scientists.

Despite such barriers, Julian became one of the first Black millionaires in America through his chemical business successes.

Honors, Recognition & Legacy

• Julian held over 130 patents in his lifetime.

• In 1947, he received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP, one of their highest honors.

• In 1950, he was named Chicagoan of the Year.

• In 1973, Julian was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, becoming the first African-American chemist so honored.

• He is also honored by many institutions:

  • The Percy L. Julian Science and Mathematics Center at DePauw University is named after him.

  • The Percy L. Julian Award is presented by the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers (NOBCChe) for achievements in science and engineering.

  • He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1990.

  • The American Chemical Society designated his physostigmine synthesis work as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.

  • He has been memorialized in stamps, buildings, schools, and more.

Julian died on April 19, 1975 in Waukegan, Illinois.

Famous Quotes & Reflections

While Julian was more a scientist than a public philosopher, several remarks and reflections capture aspects of his worldview and dedication:

• “I don’t think that you can possibly embrace the kind of joy which one who has worked with plants and plant structures … how wonderful the plant laboratory seems.” (often quoted in retrospective accounts)

• His perseverance in the face of obstacles is often summarized: “Surmounting the insurmountable” (a phrase used by the USPTO to describe his story)

Lessons from Percy Julian’s Life

1. Science can be a force for equity and access
   Julian’s innovations dramatically lowered the cost of critical medicines, making them more widely available.

2. Persistence in adversity
   He overcame systemic racism, exclusion, and personal attacks, yet stayed committed to his work and integrity.

3. Bridge between academia and industry
   Julian did not remain purely in academic research—he turned discovery into scalable production and business.

4. Mentorship and legacy matter
   He supported younger Black scientists and used his success to open doors for others.

5. Vision beyond the lab
   Julian saw plants, chemistry, and industrial processes as tools to solve real human problems—not just theoretical exercises.