Heinrich Otto Wieland

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Heinrich Otto Wieland (June 4, 1877 – August 5, 1957) was a German chemist. He won the 1927 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research into the bile acids. [1]

In 1901 Wieland received his doctorate at the University of Munich while studying under Johannes Thiele. In 1917 he succeeded Adolf von Baeyer as Chemistry Professor at the University of Munich. [2]

In 1941, Wieland isolated the toxin alpha-amanitin, the principal active agent of one of the world's ,most poisonous mushrooms Amanita phalloides.

Wieland tried successfully to protect people, especially Jewish students, who were "racially burdened" after the Nuremberg Laws. Students who were expelled because they were "racially burdened" could stay in Heinrich Wieland's group as chemists or as "Gäste des Geheimrats" (guests of the privy councillor). After collecting money for Kurt Huber's widow Clara Huber, Hans Conrad Leipelt, a student of Wieland, was sentenced to death.

[edit] Family

Heinrich Wieland was a cousin of Helene Boehringer, the wife of Albert Boehringer, who was the founder of Boehringer Ingelheim. From 1915 to the end of 1920, he was advisor at Boehringer Ingelheim and during this time he established the first scientific department of the company.

[edit] Heinrich Wieland Prize

Since 1964, the Heinrich Wieland Prize has been awarded annually to promote research on chemistry, biochemistry, physiology and clinical medicine of lipids and related substances. The prize is among the most treasured international science awards and has a successful history of over 40 years. To date it has been presented to 58 scientists. The Heinrich Wieland Prize is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and awarded by an independent Board of Trustees.