Julius Nieuwland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reverend Julius Arthur Nieuwland, CSC, Ph.D., (February 14, 1878–June 11, 1976) was a Belgian-born Holy Cross priest and professor of chemistry and botany at the University of Notre Dame. He is known for his contributions to acetylene research and the discovery of synthetic rubber which eventually lead to the invention of Neoprene by DuPont.

Father Nieuwland's parents immigrated from Hansbeke, Belgium in 1880 to South Bend, Indiana. As a young man, Nieuwland enrolled at the University of Notre Dame, where he studied Latin and Greek and received his undergraduate degree in 1899. He soon after began studies for the priesthood. Ordained in 1903, Nieuwland attended graduate school at The Catholic University of America, receiving his Ph.D. in 1904.

Fr. Nieuwland is the priest in the film Knute Rockne, All American and in real life who tried to convince Knute Rockne to be a chemist rather than a football coach.