Gross Archive

Most Famous Black Scientists In History



When talking about scientists whose works have impacted our world, we often don't see blacks in the picture. However, just like every other race, black people have also played important roles in making our world a better place. Here are few of the most famous black scientist who have also contributed to humanity but we don't usually talk about them. 

Ernest Everett Just 

(August 14, 1883 – October 27, 1941)
An African-American biologist and author, famous in the 20th century. Ernest Everett Just, is known for his work on egg fertilization and the structure of the cell during the development of an organism. 

Patricia Bath 

(born November 4, 1942)
Dr. Patricia was an American ophthalmologist and inventor. She invented the laser cataract surgery also called "Laserphaco Probe". She became the first African American female doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. 

Benjamin Banneker 

(November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806)
Benjamin Banneker was a African-American almanac author, surveyor, an astronomer and a farmer who had knowledge of mathematics and natural history. He invented America’s first functional clock.

Philip Emeagwali 

(born August 23, 1954)
Philip Emeagwali is a Nigerian born computer scientist and inventor. He is known for being the first person to use a Connection Machine supercomputer to help analyze petroleum, by using a novel mathematical formulation and implementation.

Marie Maynard Daly 

(April 16, 1921 – October 28, 2003)
She was a Biochemist who became the first African-American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. 

Charles R. Drew