The Most Famous
Chemists from Germany
Top 10
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Germans Chemists of all time. This list of famous Germans Chemists is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Germans Chemists.
1. Emil Fischer (1852 - 1919)
With an HPI of 80.82, Emil Fischer is the most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 86 different languages on wikipedia.
2. August Kekulé (1829 - 1896)
With an HPI of 79.36, August Kekulé is the 2nd most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 62 different languages.
3. Adolf Windaus (1876 - 1959)
With an HPI of 78.89, Adolf Windaus is the 3rd most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 62 different languages.
4. Ernst Chain (1906 - 1979)
With an HPI of 78.79, Ernst Chain is the 4th most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 61 different languages.
5. Eduard Buchner (1860 - 1917)
With an HPI of 78.78, Eduard Buchner is the 5th most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 76 different languages.
6. Friedrich Wöhler (1800 - 1882)
With an HPI of 78.43, Friedrich Wöhler is the 6th most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 63 different languages.
7. Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742 - 1786)
With an HPI of 78.35, Carl Wilhelm Scheele is the 7th most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 70 different languages.
8. Hans Adolf Krebs (1900 - 1981)
With an HPI of 78.34, Hans Adolf Krebs is the 8th most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 63 different languages.
9. Otto Hahn (1879 - 1968)
With an HPI of 78.04, Otto Hahn is the 9th most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 85 different languages.
10. Richard Willstätter (1872 - 1942)
With an HPI of 77.35, Richard Willstätter is the 10th most famous Germans Chemist. biography has been translated into 63 different languages.
People
Pantheon has 112 people classified as Germans chemists born between 1555 and 1987. Of these 112, 13 (11.61%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Germans chemists include Gerhard Ertl, Robert Huber, and Johann Deisenhofer. The most famous deceased Germans chemists include Emil Fischer, August Kekulé, and Adolf Windaus. As of April 2024, 1 new Germans chemists have been added to Pantheon including Germar Rudolf.
Living Germans Chemists
Go to all Rankings
Gerhard Ertl
1936 - Present
HPI: 72.12
Robert Huber
1937 - Present
HPI: 70.48
Johann Deisenhofer
1943 - Present
HPI: 70.19
Joachim Frank
1940 - Present
HPI: 68.69
Hartmut Michel
1948 - Present
HPI: 68.68
John Polanyi
1929 - Present
HPI: 67.39
Joachim Sauer
1949 - Present
HPI: 66.77
Thomas C. Südhof
1955 - Present
HPI: 63.35
Michael Grätzel
1944 - Present
HPI: 58.93
Benjamin List
1968 - Present
HPI: 58.62
Jürgen Hennig
1951 - Present
HPI: 53.72
Germar Rudolf
1964 - Present
HPI: 46.21
Deceased Germans Chemists
Go to all RankingsEmil Fischer
1852 - 1919
HPI: 80.82
August Kekulé
1829 - 1896
HPI: 79.36
Adolf Windaus
1876 - 1959
HPI: 78.89
Ernst Chain
1906 - 1979
HPI: 78.79
Eduard Buchner
1860 - 1917
HPI: 78.78
Friedrich Wöhler
1800 - 1882
HPI: 78.43
Carl Wilhelm Scheele
1742 - 1786
HPI: 78.35
Hans Adolf Krebs
1900 - 1981
HPI: 78.34
Otto Hahn
1879 - 1968
HPI: 78.04
Richard Willstätter
1872 - 1942
HPI: 77.35
Adolf von Baeyer
1835 - 1917
HPI: 76.52
Adolf Butenandt
1903 - 1995
HPI: 76.38
Newly Added Germans Chemists (2025)
Go to all RankingsOverlapping Lives
Which Chemists were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 25 most globally memorable Chemists since 1700.
