Vladimir Prelog was a chemist from Bosnia and Herzegovina who, at the age of sixteen, had a passion for science, particularly chemistry. Scientists such as Emil Votoek, Lavoslav Ruika, Robert Robinson, and Christopher Ingold impacted him greatly. He had to relocate several times as a child, including to Zagreb, Osijek, and Prague. He went into organic chemistry after receiving his doctorate from the prestigious ‘Czech Technical University’ in Prague, focusing especially on antibiotics and medical pharmaceuticals. He rose through the ranks of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, eventually becoming a professor and then the Head of the Laboratory. He continued to work on his theories, collaborating with British chemists Robert Sidney Cahn and Christopher Kelk Ingold to create the ‘Cahn–Ingold–Prelog priority criteria,’ a novel system for identifying the structure of stereoisomers. This chemist opened doors for Switzerland in the field of organic chemistry, becoming a Nobel laureate at the age of sixty-nine with the support of mentor Lavoslav Ruika. He worked on stereoisomeric molecules found in organic compounds until his death, and many consider him the father of stereochemistry.
Early Years and Childhood
Junius Richard Jayewardene was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Honourable Justice Eugene Wilfred Jayewardene and Agnes Helen Don Philip Wijewardena on September 17, 1906. His father went on to become the Chief Justice of Ceylon, and he came from a privileged family with significant ties to the legal community. He was the oldest of 11 siblings.
He received his primary education at the Bishop’s College in Colombo and then went on to the Royal College in the same city for his secondary schooling. He did well in both academics and extracurricular activities, representing the school in cricket, rugby, football, and boxing. In 1925, he became the Royal College’s head prefect.
He enrolled in University College Colombo in 1926 and the Colombo Law School two years later. He became an advocate and began his own legal practice after graduating from law school.
Vladimir Prelog’s Career
J. R. Jayewardene entered politics in 1938, after briefly practicing law. He quickly rose through the ranks of the CNC, which was active in the country’s nationalist movement at the time. He was promoted to joint secretary two years after arriving, and then to State Council three years later.
He joined the United National Party (UNP) after Sri Lanka obtained independence from the British and was named finance minister in the government created in 1948. He was minister of food and agriculture for three years after holding the job for five years. Meanwhile, he rose through the ranks of the party to second in charge. In 1951, he was elected to the Ceylon Cricket Board of Control.
He had regular disagreements with UNP leader Dudley Senanayake on the threat presented by the Sinhala-nationalist Sri Lanka Freedom Party throughout the later half of the 1950s (SLFP).
He was named Minister of State after the UNP formed the government in 1965, and he focused his efforts on making tourism a significant part of Sri Lanka’s economy.
After the UNP lost to the SLFP in the 1970 elections, he became the parliament’s leader of the opposition. Due to Dudley Senanayake’s poor health, he effectively became the UNP’s leader as well. Following Senanayake’s death three years later, he became the UNP’s leader.
In 1976, he resigned from his post in parliament after the SLFP administration extended its term. The UNP stormed back to power in the subsequent elections, and he was elected Prime Minister. He did, however, change the constitution to give the country an executive presidency, and he was elected President on February 4, 1978.
He inaugurated a new age of free markets and bolstered the private sector throughout his reign. In 1983, he was re-elected president.
During the 1980s, Jayewardene worked to resolve simmering tensions between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities. He was opposed to the creation of a Tamil state and ultimately failed to achieve a peaceful solution. In 1989, he resigned as President of the United States.
Works of Significant Importance
During his time as Minister of State from 1965 to 1970, when the subject of tourism was under his jurisdiction, J. R. Jayewardene transformed the country into a prominent tourist destination.
Sri Lanka had fast economic growth during his presidency, as he helped to usher in a new era of free markets and boosted the private sector.
Legacy and Personal Life
Miss Elina Bandara Rupasinghe, whom he married in 1935, was his second wife. Ravindra ‘Ravi’ Vimal Jayewardene, the couple’s son, was their only child.
At the age of 90, J. R. Jayewardene died in Colombo on November 1, 1996.
Estimated Net worth
Vladimir is one of the wealthiest and most well-known chemists. Vladimir Prelog’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.