John Tileston Edsall


John Tileston Edsall was an
early protein scientist, who contributed significantly to the
understanding of the hydrophobic interaction.

Early life

Born in Philadelphia, John Edsall moved to Boston with his family at the age of 10. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in chemistry. At Harvard he was a good friend of the physicist Robert Oppenheimer.

Protein research

In 1943, Edsall and Cohn published a
physical chemistry book Proteins, Amino Acids and Peptides,
that had a profound influence on the next generation of protein
scientists.

Blood fractionation

Edsall worked with Edwin Cohn during
World War II to apply protein methods to blood fractionation.

Advances in Protein Chemistry

John Edsall was a founding co-editor of the journal Advances in Protein Chemistry. He was invited by the publisher Kurt Jacoby and the founding editor Tim Anson, whom he had met in 1924 in Cambridge.

Teaching and students

He was Professor at the Harvard University. He inspired medical student Alexander Rich to pursue an academic career.

Historical interests

Edsall was active in preserving the history of protein science.

Personal history

John T. Edsall married Margaret Dunham of Scarsdale, NY, May 1, 1929 in Scarsdale. They had three sons: James Lawrence Dunham Edsall, June 6, 1930 - July 8, 1978; David T. Edsall, born 1933, and Nicholas C. Edsall, born 1936. Margaret D. Edsall was born in New York, NY, June 9, 1902 and died May 19, 1987. They lived most of their married life in Cambridge, MA.