Scientist
Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin was born on July 25, 1920 in London, United Kingdom. She obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry the year she turned 22, and conducted research on coal and carbon the year she turned 25.
Rosalind Franklin was born in 1920 and lived to age 37. Anyone born before 1920 is older than Rosalind. Anyone over 37 is older than Rosalind ever was.
Rosalind Franklin was born on July 25, 1920 in London, United Kingdom and died on April 16, 1958 at the age of 37. Rosalind would be 106 years old today.
Rosalind Franklin would be 106 years old in 2026 and would have turned 106 on July 25, 2026. Rosalind Franklin's age in every year ↓
Born
July 25, 1920
Died
April 16, 1958
World pop. at birth
~1.9B
Rosalind's age at death
37
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 37. 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: she obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry the year she turned 22. That's 2 years from now for you.
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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.
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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 turned 22 in 1942, the year she obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry. 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 turned 25 in 1945, the year she conducted research on coal and carbon. 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 turned 31 in 1951, the year she joined King's College London. 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 turned 33 in 1953, the year she produced Photo 51. 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 in 1958, the year she died from ovarian cancer. Are you older than Rosalind was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Age by year
How old was Rosalind Franklin in each year?
- 2026
- Rosalind Franklin would be 106 years old in 2026 and would have turned 106 on July 25, 2026.
- 1942
- Rosalind Franklin was 21 at the start of 1942 and turned 22 on July 25, 1942. That year, she obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry.
- 1945
- Rosalind Franklin was 24 at the start of 1945 and turned 25 on July 25, 1945. That year, she conducted research on coal and carbon.
- 1953
- Rosalind Franklin was 32 at the start of 1953 and turned 33 on July 25, 1953. That year, she produced Photo 51.
- 1958
- Rosalind Franklin was 37 years old when she died on April 16, 1958, before her 38th birthday. That year, she died from ovarian cancer.
Rosalind Franklin's age in every year
Ages change on July 25: the first number is before that birthday, the second after it.
- 19200 years old
- 19210 → 1 years old
- 19221 → 2 years old
- 19232 → 3 years old
- 19243 → 4 years old
- 19254 → 5 years old
- 19265 → 6 years old
- 19276 → 7 years old
- 19287 → 8 years old
- 19298 → 9 years old
- 19309 → 10 years old
- 193110 → 11 years old
- 193211 → 12 years old
- 193312 → 13 years old
- 193413 → 14 years old
- 193514 → 15 years old
- 193615 → 16 years old
- 193716 → 17 years old
- 193817 → 18 years old
- 193918 → 19 years old
- 194019 → 20 years old
- 194120 → 21 years old
- 194221 → 22 years old
- 194322 → 23 years old
- 194423 → 24 years old
- 194524 → 25 years old
- 194625 → 26 years old
- 194726 → 27 years old
- 194827 → 28 years old
- 194928 → 29 years old
- 195029 → 30 years old
- 195130 → 31 years old
- 195231 → 32 years old
- 195332 → 33 years old
- 195433 → 34 years old
- 195534 → 35 years old
- 195635 → 36 years old
- 195736 → 37 years old
- 195837 years old
