Scientist
Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin was born on July 25, 1920 in London, United Kingdom. She obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry at age 22 and conducted research on coal and carbon at 25.
Rosalind Franklin was born in 1920 and lived to age 38. Anyone born before 1920 is older than Rosalind. Anyone over 38 is older than Rosalind ever was.
Born
July 25, 1920
London, United Kingdom
World pop: ~1.9B
Died
April 16, 1958
World pop: ~2.9B
Rosalind's age at death
38
Your age
20
Are you older than Rosalind Franklin?
No — Rosalind Franklin was born in 1920. You were born in 2006, making you 86 years younger. Rosalind lived to age 38. You are currently 20, so you are not yet older than Rosalind was when she died.
At your age (20), Rosalind hadn't yet reached her first major milestone. Rosalind was 22 when she obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry — that's 2 years from now for you.
Rosalind's Life Timeline
Rosalind Franklin was born on July 25, 1920, in London, United Kingdom, into a well-off Jewish family. She excelled academically from a young age, attending St. Paul's Girls' School and later studying at Newnham College, Cambridge. Her early interest in science was nurtured by her family, and she pursued a career in physical chemistry, which would lead her to significant contributions in molecular biology.
Read more
Franklin was 30 years old when she joined King's College London in 1951, where she conducted pivotal research using X-ray crystallography. Her most notable achievement came in 1953 when she produced Photo 51, an X-ray diffraction image of DNA that was critical in revealing the double helix structure of DNA. This work laid the groundwork for the later discoveries by James Watson and Francis Crick, who would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962, a recognition that Franklin did not receive during her lifetime.
Despite her untimely death at the age of 38 in 1958, Franklin's contributions to science have been increasingly recognized over the decades. Her work not only advanced the understanding of DNA but also had significant implications in the fields of virology and coal science. Today, she is celebrated as a pioneer in molecular biology, and her legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists.
Obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry
Rosalind Franklin was 22 years old when she obtained her PhD in Physical Chemistry from Cambridge University. This achievement marked the beginning of her scientific career, establishing her as a knowledgeable figure in the field of chemistry.
Rosalind Franklin was 22 years old when she obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry in 1942. Are you older than Rosalind was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Conducted research on coal and carbon
Rosalind Franklin was 25 years old when she began her research on coal and carbon at the British Coal Utilisation Research Association. Her work in this area contributed to the understanding of the physical properties of carbon materials.
Rosalind Franklin was 25 years old when she conducted research on coal and carbon in 1945. Are you older than Rosalind was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Joined King's College London
Rosalind Franklin was 31 years old when she joined King's College London as a research associate. This position allowed her to focus on DNA research, where she would make groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of its structure.
Rosalind Franklin was 31 years old when she joined King's College London in 1951. Are you older than Rosalind was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Produced Photo 51
Rosalind Franklin was 33 years old when she produced Photo 51, an X-ray diffraction image that provided critical evidence for the double helix structure of DNA. This image was crucial for the later work of Watson and Crick.
Rosalind Franklin was 33 years old when she produced Photo 51 in 1953. Are you older than Rosalind was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Died from ovarian cancer
Rosalind Franklin was 37 years old when she passed away from ovarian cancer. Her death marked the loss of a brilliant scientist whose contributions were not fully recognized until years later.
Rosalind Franklin was 37 years old when she died from ovarian cancer in 1958. Are you older than Rosalind was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Was posthumously recognized for DNA research
Rosalind Franklin was 38 years old when she died, but her contributions to DNA research were posthumously recognized, leading to a reevaluation of her role in the discovery of the DNA structure. This recognition has continued to grow in the decades since her death.
Rosalind Franklin was 38 years old when she was posthumously recognized for DNA research in 1958. Are you older than Rosalind was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Age by Year
| Year | Age | Notable Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 0 | |
| 1921 | 1 | |
| 1922 | 2 | |
| 1923 | 3 | |
| 1924 | 4 | |
| 1925 | 5 | |
| 1926 | 6 | |
| 1927 | 7 | |
| 1928 | 8 | |
| 1929 | 9 | |
| 1930 | 10 | |
| 1931 | 11 | |
| 1932 | 12 | |
| 1933 | 13 | |
| 1934 | 14 | |
| 1935 | 15 | |
| 1936 | 16 | |
| 1937 | 17 | |
| 1938 | 18 | |
| 1939 | 19 | |
| 1940 | 20 | |
| 1941 | 21 | |
| 1942 | 22 | obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry |
| 1943 | 23 | |
| 1944 | 24 | |
| 1945 | 25 | conducted research on coal and carbon |
| 1946 | 26 | |
| 1947 | 27 | |
| 1948 | 28 | |
| 1949 | 29 | |
| 1950 | 30 | |
| 1951 | 31 | joined King's College London |
| 1952 | 32 | |
| 1953 | 33 | produced Photo 51 |
| 1954 | 34 | |
| 1955 | 35 | |
| 1956 | 36 | |
| 1957 | 37 | |
| 1958 | 38 | died from ovarian cancer |
