Louis Pasteur

1288 Words3 Pages

Many individuals have made astounding contributions to society in the past 200 years; however, some of these contributions were so powerful, they effectively changed the future of our world. Louis Pasteur, born December 27th, 1822, in the town of Dole, Eastern France, is one of the most noteworthy individuals to live during the last 200 years. Responsible for a myriad of accomplishments ranging from the debunking of the infamous “spontaneous generation” theory to the method named after him today, pasteurization, Mr. Pasteur is responsible for bestowing upon us some of the modern day conveniences we enjoy daily. Before discussing his accomplishments, however, one should first look at his origins.

Pasteur's father, Jean-Joseph Pasteur, in addition to being a tanner, was a sergeant major decorated with the Legion of Honour during the Napoleonic Wars. I make mention of this because Louis Pasteur’s patriotism was one of the most defining elements of his character, which was probably the result of influences from this heroic man. He began his education at a primary school where his family had moved, in Arbois, and finished secondary school in nearby Besanon. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1840, and subsequently his bachelor of science degree in 1842 at the Royal College of Besanon. In 1843, Pasteur was admitted to the cole Normale Supérieure, a college especially focused towards producing teachers. Pasteur obtained his master of science degree in 1845 and then acquired an advanced degree in physical sciences, later earning his doctorate in sciences in 1847. Ready to conduct research and make contributions to the community of scientists at that time, Pasteur accepted a position at the University of Strasbourg as a professor ...

... middle of paper ...

...sues of his time, such as also saving the French’s silk industry after a mysterious disease attacked their nurseries, or creating the anthrax and rabies vaccines while revolutionizing the vaccination methods still in use partly today. He was given the highest scientific awards of his time and buried with prestige in a special location in France, a sure sign of respect for the bequeathed information we received from this great man (Ullmann, “Louis”). His discoveries created multiple different disciplines of science, saved many lives, prevented industrial collapses in his country, and are still very valid and strong ideas today. His legacy lives on in the multiple branches of science that he was simply too busy to allow the necessary amount of time to properly research. This is the type of man that our generation should look up to as a hero and use as an influence.

More about Louis Pasteur

Open Document