Karl Theophil Fries

Karl Theophil Fries (13 March 1875 – 6 September 1962) was a German chemist.

Karl Theophil Fries
Born	(1875-03-13)13 March 1875 Kiedrich, German Empire
Died	6 September 1962(1962-09-06) (aged 87) Marburg, Western Germany
Alma mater	University of Marburg
Known for	Fries rearrangement
Scientific career
Institutions	University of Marburg Technical University at Brunswick
Doctoral advisor	Theodor Zincke

Life

Karl Theophil Fries was born in Kiedrich, Germany on (1875-03-13)13 March 1875. After his family moved to Frankfurt he went to school there, but chose to study chemistry at the near University of Marburg in 1894. After one year in Darmstadt University of Technology to improve his skills in electrochemistry he received his Ph.D with Theodor Zincke back at the University of Marburg in 1899. He became a professor in Marburg until the retirement of Theodor Zincke and the start of World War I in 1914. He took part as a soldier in World War I from 1914 till 1918. He became a professor at the Technical University at Brunswick in 1918 and stayed there until a conflict with some Nazi habilitants in 1938. After his forced retirement in 1938 he went back to Marburg where he was able to teach chemistry at the university. Karl Fries died on 6 September 1962 in Marburg and was buried near his academic advisor Theodor Zincke.

Accomplishments

Fries is noted for the discovery of the Fries rearrangement, which is an important reaction used in Organic synthesis.

References

• H. Bestian (1984). "Karl Fries. 1875–1962". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. 117 (11): XXIII–XLI. doi:10.1002/cber.19841171102.