Nobel Prize winners by year (1951–60)

year category name country* achievement literary area

1951

chemistry McMillan, Edwin Mattison U.S. discovery of and research on transuranium elements

chemistry Seaborg, Glenn T. U.S. discovery of and research on transuranium elements

literature Lagerkvist, Pär Sweden novelist

peace Jouhaux, Léon France

physics Cockcroft, Sir John Douglas U.K. work on transmutation of atomic nuclei by accelerated particles

physics Walton, Ernest Thomas Sinton Ireland work on transmutation of atomic nuclei by accelerated particles

physiology/

medicine Theiler, Max South Africa yellow fever discoveries

1952

chemistry Martin, A.J.P. U.K. development of partition chromatography

chemistry Synge, R.L.M. U.K. development of partition chromatography

literature Mauriac, François France poet, novelist, dramatist

peace Schweitzer, Albert Alsace

physics Bloch, Felix U.S. discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance in solids

physics Purcell, E.M. U.S. discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance in solids

physiology/

medicine Waksman, Selman Abraham U.S. discovery of streptomycin

1953

chemistry Staudinger, Hermann West Germany work on macromolecules

literature Churchill, Sir Winston U.K. historian, orator

peace Marshall, George C. (Marshall, George Catlett) U.S.

physics Zernike, Frits The Netherlands method of phase-contrast microscopy

physiology/

medicine Krebs, Sir Hans Adolf U.K. discovery of coenzyme A–citric acid cycle in metabolism of carbohydrates

physiology/

medicine Lipmann, Fritz Albert U.S. discovery of coenzyme A–citric acid cycle in metabolism of carbohydrates

1954

chemistry Pauling, Linus U.S. study of the nature of the chemical bond

literature Hemingway, Ernest U.S. novelist

peace United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the (founded 1951)

physics Born, Max U.K. statistical studies of atomic wave functions

physics Bothe, Walther West Germany invention of coincidence method

physiology/

medicine Enders, John Franklin U.S. cultivation of the poliomyelitis virus in tissue cultures

physiology/

medicine Robbins, Frederick Chapman U.S. cultivation of the poliomyelitis virus in tissue cultures

physiology/

medicine Weller, Thomas H. U.S. cultivation of the poliomyelitis virus in tissue cultures

1955

chemistry du Vigneaud, Vincent U.S. first synthesis of a polypeptide hormone

literature Laxness, Halldór Iceland novelist

physics Kusch, Polykarp U.S. measurement of magnetic moment of electron

physics Lamb, Willis Eugene, Jr. U.S. discoveries in the hydrogen spectrum

physiology/

medicine Theorell, Axel Hugo Teodor Sweden nature and mode of action of oxidation enzymes

1956

chemistry Hinshelwood, Sir Cyril Norman U.K. work on the kinetics of chemical reactions

chemistry Semyonov, Nikolay Nikolayevich U.S.S.R. work on the kinetics of chemical reactions

literature Jiménez, Juan Ramón Spain poet

physics Bardeen, John U.S. investigations on semiconductors and invention of the transistor

physics Brattain, Walter H. U.S. investigations on semiconductors and invention of the transistor

physics Shockley, William B. U.S. investigations on semiconductors and invention of the transistor

physiology/

medicine Cournand, André F. U.S. discoveries concerning heart catheterization and circulatory changes

physiology/

medicine Forssmann, Werner West Germany discoveries concerning heart catheterization and circulatory changes

physiology/

medicine Richards, Dickinson Woodruff U.S. discoveries concerning heart catheterization and circulatory changes

1957

chemistry Todd (of Trumpington), Alexander Robertus Todd, Baron (Todd, Alexander Robertus Todd, Baron) U.K. work on nucleotides and nucleotide coenzymes

literature Camus, Albert France novelist, dramatist

peace Pearson, Lester B. Canada

physics Lee, Tsung-Dao China discovery of violations of the principle of parity

physics Yang, Chen Ning China discovery of violations of the principle of parity

physiology/

medicine Bovet, Daniel Italy production of synthetic curare

1958

chemistry Sanger, Frederick U.K. determination of the structure of the insulin molecule

literature Pasternak, Boris Leonidovich (declined) U.S.S.R. novelist, poet

peace Pire, Dominique Belgium

physics Cherenkov, Pavel Alekseyevich U.S.S.R. discovery and interpretation of the Cherenkov effect

physics Frank, Ilya Mikhaylovich U.S.S.R. discovery and interpretation of the Cherenkov effect

physics Tamm, Igor Yevgenyevich U.S.S.R. discovery and interpretation of the Cherenkov effect

physiology/

medicine Beadle, George Wells U.S. genetic regulation of chemical processes

physiology/

medicine Lederberg, Joshua U.S. genetic recombination

physiology/

medicine Tatum, Edward L. U.S. genetic regulation of chemical processes

1959

chemistry Heyrovský, Jaroslav Czech. discovery and development of polarography

literature Quasimodo, Salvatore Italy poet

peace Noel-Baker (of the City of Derby), Philip John Noel-Baker, Baron (Noel-Baker, Philip John Noel-Baker, Baron) U.K.

physics Chamberlain, Owen U.S. confirmation of the existence of the antiproton

physics Segrè, Emilio U.S. confirmation of the existence of the antiproton

physiology/

medicine Kornberg, Arthur U.S. work on producing nucleic acids artificially

physiology/

medicine Ochoa, Severo U.S. work on producing nucleic acids artificially

1960

chemistry Libby, Willard Frank U.S. development of radiocarbon dating

literature Saint-John Perse France poet

peace Luthuli, Albert John South Africa

physics Glaser, Donald A. U.S. development of the bubble chamber

physiology/

medicine Burnet, Sir Macfarlane Australia acquired immunity to tissue transplants

physiology/

medicine Medawar, Sir Peter B. U.K. acquired immunity to tissue transplants

*Nationality given is the citizenship of recipient at the time award was made. Prizes may be withheld or not awarded in years when no worthy recipient can be found or when the world situation (e.g., World Wars I and II) prevents the gathering of information needed to reach a decision.

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