Otto Unverdorben

Otto Unverdorben (13 October 1806 – 28 November 1873) was a German chemist and merchant who was born in Dahme/Marke. After completing his schooling in Dresden, he studied chemistry at Halle, Leipzig and Berlin.

Plaque honoring Unverdorben at Hauptstraße 46/47 in Dahme/Mark

In 1826 at the age of 20, Unverdorben discovered aniline, which he obtained from the distillation of natural vegetable indigo. He called his discovery Crystallin. Aniline is important in the manufacture of dyes, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. In 1829 he returned to his hometown of Dahme/Mark and became successful in the cigar industry.

Today the Otto-Unverdorben Dahme-Oberschule is named in his honor.

References

• Otto Unverdorben (1826). "Ueber das Verhalten der organischen Körper in höheren Temperaturen". Annalen der Physik. 8 (11): 397–410. Bibcode:1826AnP....84..397U. doi:10.1002/andp.18260841109.
• Biography from the Otto Unverdorben school
• wikisource: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Otto Unverdorben
• Schelenz, Hermann (1921). "Otto Unverdorben, der Anilinentdecker". Zeitschrift für Angewandte Chemie. 34 (7): 31–32. doi:10.1002/ange.19210340703.
• Baumgertel, H (1990). "Otto Unverdorben--a successful scientist from Niederlausitz". Die Pharmazie. 45 (2): 133–4. PMID 2187205.
• Bugge, G. (1943). "Otto Unverdorben aus Dahme, der Finder des Anilins und Rohnikotins. Von M. Wald. 4. Aufl. (8. Flämingheft.) 24 S., 6 Abb., Selbstverlag, 1941. Pr. RM. 0,40". Die Chemie. 56 (39–40): 279. doi:10.1002/ange.19430563924.
• "Herr der Farben" (in German). Deutschland Radio.

This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia.