Deng Jiaxian
Deng Jiaxian was a Chinese nuclear physicist and academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was a leading organizer and key contributor to the Chinese nuclear weapon programs.Biography
Deng was born in Huaining, Anhui, China, on June 25, 1924. After graduating from the National Southwestern Associated University, he taught at Peking University. He went to the United States in 1948 to study at Purdue University, and earned his PhD in physics in 1950. He returned to the newly founded People's Republic of China just nine days after graduation.
From 1958 on, Deng spent over 20 years working secretly with a team of young scientists on the development of the nuclear and hydrogen bomb for China, culminating in success in 1964 and 1967. He died on July 29, 1986 in Beijing.
Deng is regarded as the "Father of China's Nuclear Program". In 1999, he was posthumously awarded the Two Bombs, One Satellite Meritorious Award for his contributions to Chinese military science, along with 22 other scientists.
