Joseph Needham

Joseph Needham
Born
Noel Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham

9 December 1900 (1900-12-09)
London, England
Died24 March 1995 (1995-03-25) (aged 94)
EducationGonville and Caius College, Cambridge (BA, MA, PhD)
Occupation(s)Biochemist, historian of science, sinologist
Known forScience and Civilisation in China
Spouses
(m. 1924; died 1987)
(m. 1989; died 1991)
AwardsLeonardo da Vinci Medal (1968)
Dexter Award (1979)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese李約瑟
Simplified Chinese李约瑟
Literal meaningLi (surname 李) Joseph
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Yuēsè
Wade–GilesLi Yüeh-Sê

Noel Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham CH FRS FBA[1] (/ˈndəm/; 9 December 1900 – 24 March 1995) was a British biochemist, historian of science and sinologist known for his scientific research and writing on the history of Chinese science and technology, initiating publication of the multivolume Science and Civilisation in China. A focus of his was what has come to be called the Needham Question of why and how China had ceded its leadership in science and technology to Western countries.

He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1941[2] and a fellow of the British Academy in 1971.[3] In 1992, Queen Elizabeth II conferred on him the Order of the Companions of Honour, and the Royal Society noted he was the only living person to hold these three titles.[4]

  1. ^ GurdonRodbard (2000), p. 365.
  2. ^ Winchester 2008, pp. 28–29
  3. ^ Winchester 2008, p. 238
  4. ^ Winchester 2008, p. 250