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3
1869-19
K
I
R
E
D
FRI Z)
(FRIT
L
G
E
R
P
OUR NOBEL
PRIZE WINNER (TOO)
Portrait of Friderik Pregl. Nobelprize.org.
Friderik (Fritz) Pregl was born on 3 Septem-
ber 1869 in Ljubljana to a Slovenian father and
As a doctor and chemist, he
realised the importance of a
chemist’s insight and soon med-
ical chemistry would become
the central area of his work. In
Graz he performed the most de-
manding tasks at the Medical
Faculty, in addition to being the
university’s chancellor.
In 1923 he won the Nobel
Prize in chemistry, becoming a
member of the scientific pan-
theon. Slovenia has symbolical-
ly honoured him by naming the
prize for achievements in chem-
istry and related sciences the
Pregl Prize.
48
a German mother. He lost his father early and
was raised by his mother and grandmother.
After attending school in Ljubljana, he stud-
ied medicine in Graz, where he also earned his
doctorate.
Having been promoted from privatdocent
to associate professor of physiology at the
Medical Faculty of Graz University, he fur-
thered his education with top scientists in
Prague, Tübingen, and Leipzig. He returned to
Graz, where, save for a few years at Innsbruck
University, he continued his research in the
field of medical chemistry.
Despite invitations from various universi-
ties and research institutions in Vienna, Ber-
lin, and Ljubljana, Pregl remained faithful to
Graz University until his untimely death on 13
December 1930. He is buried in Graz.