Hermann Staudinger's interest in organic chemistry was wide-ranging and he made many important contributions in that field. He is principally known, however, for his concept of the "macromolecule," or polymer, a long chain of repeating chemical units. Although initially this idea was greeted with incredulity and scorn in the chemistry community, Staudinger eventually overcame his critics' objections with patient explanation, careful research, and dogged insistence. Polymers are now known to be extraordinarily useful substances, ubiquitous in natural systems as well as human society. The entire plastics and materials science industry bases itself on polymers, and the science of molecular biology was immeasurably aided by the concept of macromolecules. Staudinger was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1953, three years after he had retired from active research.

Staudinger was born March 23, 1881, in Worms, Germany, to Dr. Franz and Auguste (Wenck) Staudinger. His father was a philosopher and professor at various German...