| 1901 |
|
Born
in Portland, Oregon, on February 28. |
| 1917 |
|
Enters
Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis. |
| 1922 |
|
Receives
B.S. degree in chemical engineering; in fall, as graduate student
at Caltech, begins research on molecular structure of crystals using
x-ray diffraction. |
| 1923 |
|
Marries
Ava Helen Miller and publishes first scientific paper. |
| 1925 |
|
Receives
Ph.D. in chemistry from Caltech, with minor in mathematical physics. |
| 1926-27 |
|
In
Europe on Guggenheim Fellowship, applies new quantum-mechanics physics
to chemistry. |
| 1927 |
|
Becomes
Faculty member at Caltech in fall. |
| 1930 |
|
Publishes
first book, The Structure of Line Spectra (with
S. Goudsinit). |
| 1931 |
|
Publishes
first influential paper on nature of chemical bond (insight began
in 1929). |
| 1933 |
|
Elected
to National Academy of Sciences. |
| 1934 |
|
Does
first research in biochemistry, on magnetism and oxygen exchange
in hemoglobin. |
| 1936 |
|
Starts
studies of antibodies in immune system and structure of proteins. |
| 1937 |
|
Appointed
chairman of Caltech's Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. |
| 1939 |
|
Publishes
The Nature of Chemical Bonds |
| 1940 |
|
Publishes
paper (with M. Delbruck) on biological specificity and molecular
complementariness. Diagnosed as having glomerulonephritis, an often
fatal kidney disease. |
| 1941-45 |
|
Works
on wartime projects by the U.S. government (later given Presidential
Medal For Merit in 1948). |
| 1945-49 |
|
Proves
sickle cell anemia is disease of hemoglobin molecule; first molecular
disease described. |
| 1946 |
|
Joins
Einstein's Emergency Committee to inform public about nuclear weapons. |
| 1947 |
|
Publishes
first textbook, General Chemistry |
| 1948 |
|
Discovers
alpha helix model of polypeptide protein structure (publishes papers
in 1950-51). |
| 1949 |
|
Serves
as proactive President of American Chemical Society. |
| 1952 |
|
Refused
passport by the U S. State Dept. because anticommunist statements
are "not strong enough." |
| 1954 |
|
Awarded
Nobel Prize in Chemistry for research into the nature of the chemical
bond. |
| 1955 |
|
Signs
the Mainau Declaration with 52 other Nobel laureates, calling for
an end to all war. |
| 1956 |
|
Begins
work on biochemistry of mental retardation and mental illness, lasting
10 years. |
| 1957 |
|
With
Ava Helen Pauling, circulates among scientists a petition to end
nuclear weapons tests. |
| 1958 |
|
Presents
petition to U.N. with over 11,000 signatures from 49 countries.
Writes influential popular book, No More War! Pressured
by Caltech trustees because of activism, resigns from administrative
posts. |
| 1960 |
|
Subpoenaed
to testify at Senate subcommittee about test-ban treaty circulated
in 1957; refusing to provide names of assistants, risks imprisonment
for contempt of Congress. |
| 1961 |
|
Pauling
helps organize peace conference in Oslo to prevent nuclear-weapons
dissemination. Publishes molecular theory of general anesthesia
(crystal hydrate). |
| 1962 |
|
Awarded
Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to halt nuclear tests and promote
world peace. |
| 1964-67 |
|
Leaves
Caltech and becomes member of Center for the Study of Democratic
Institutions. |
| 1964 |
|
Publishes
The Architecture of Molecules with Roger Hayward. |
| 1965 |
|
Begins
producing papers on spheron theory of atomic nuclei structure. |
| 1966 |
|
Interest
aroused in megavitamin use For mental and physical health and longevity. |
| 1967-69 |
|
Research
Professor of Chemistry at UC San Diego Proposes two new biomedical
Fields: orthomolecular psychiatry and orthomolecular medicine. |
| 1969-73 |
|
Professor
of Chemistry at Stanford University. |
| 1970 |
|
His
Vitamin C and the Common Cold becomes a bestseller |
| 1973 |
|
Linus
Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine is founded. |
| 1975 |
|
Awarded
National Medal of Science. |
| 1979 |
|
Publishes
Cancer and Vitamin C with Ewan Cameron, M.D. |
| 1981 |
|
Death
of wife, Ava Helen Pauling. |
| 1984 |
|
Given
American Chemical Society's highest award, the Joseph Priestley
medal. |
| 1986 |
|
Publishes
How to Live Longer and Feel Better. |
| 1989 |
|
Receives
National Science Foundation's Vannevar Bush Award. |
| 1993 |
|
20th
annivensary of Linus Pauling Institute is celebrated. |
| 1994 |
|
Dies
at his coastal ranch in California on August 19. |
