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Semmelweis University Gallery

 

Liebermann, Leó

 

(of Szentlőrinc)

(B. 28th November, 1852, Debrecen – D. 20th July, 1926, Budapest)

Dean: 1908/09 - 1909/10

Leó Liebermann finished his secondary school studies at the Reformed Grammar School in Debrecen, then studied medicine, natural sciences and chemistry at the University of Vienna and the Josephine College. He got his diploma in medicine from the University of Vienna in 1874. Still in this year he became assistant lecturer at the Department of Medical Chemistry in Innsbruck, and a year later privatdocent at the same institute.

In 1878 he arrived in Budapest and became privatdocent in chemistry at the Faculty of Arts.

Liebermann was invited by the Royal Hungarian Veterinary Training Institute as professor extraordinarius, then in 1881 he was appointed as head of the newly established Hungarian Wine Testing Station that changed its name to State Chemical Testing Station the following year. Between 1892 and 1902 he was the director of both the Royal Hungarian Chemical Institute and the Chemical Testing Station. Liebermann developed methods for determining the trophic and toxic content of food. He became one of the pioneers of Hungarian wine testing.

His research on embryonic chemistry, proteins, guaiacol test and catalase reaction are of significance. He also compiled a theory of immunity. The reagent bearing his name has been used until this very day. He published in the fields of applied agricultural and foodstuff chemistry as well as in chemistry and public health. In 1887 Liebermann habilitated in the field of forensic medicine and medical investigator-related chemistry at the Budapest Faculty of Medicine.

He was the leader of the chemistry section of the great millennium exhibition (1896).

In 1895 Liebermann was appointed as royal counsellor, then in 1900 as professor extraordinarius. From 1902 until his death he was professor of public health. In 1916 and 1918 he was the first to urge the introduction of “numerus clausus”, i.e. a frame number of students who may enroll in the university. Leó Liebermann was dean for two academic years (1908-1910). In 1905, as a reward for his merits, he was granted the Hungarian nobility title with the prefix “of Szentlőrinci”, then in 1910 he was appointed court counsellor.

(Major works: Der Begriff des Lebens. Innsbruck, 1876.; Grundzüge der Chemie des Menschen. Stuttgart, 1880.; The present situation of biochemistry. Budapest, 1882.; Die chemische Praxis auf dem Gebiete der Gesundheitspflege und gerichtlichen Medizin. Stuttgart, 1899.; Chemistry textbook. Budapest, 1900. jointly with István Bugarszky;)