# Harry Kroto

_British chemist (1939-2016)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/harry-kroto
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Sir Harold Walter Kroto (born Harold Walter Krotoschiner; 7 October 1939 – 30 April 2016) was an English chemist. He shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley for their discovery of fullerenes. He was the recipient of many other honors and awards.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 7 October 1939 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Wisbech ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P19))
- **Died:** 30 April 2016 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P570))
- **Place of death:** Lewes ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United Kingdom ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P27))
- **Occupation:** chemist; university teacher; scientist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P106))
- **Education:** University of Sheffield; Bolton School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P69))
- **Official website:** kroto.info ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P856))
- **Positions held:** president of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2002–2004) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P39))
- **Awards:** Copley Medal; Nobel Prize in Chemistry; honorary doctor of Tel Aviv University; honorary doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense; Michael Faraday Prize; doctor honoris causa of Keiō University; Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry; Tilden Prize; honorary doctorate of Hasselt University; honorary doctor of the University of Bielefeld; Carbon Medal; Longstaff Prize; James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials; Dalton Medal; IET Kelvin Lecture ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250#P166))

## About

Kroto ended his career as the Francis Eppes Professor of Chemistry at Florida State University, which he joined in 2004. Prior to this, he spent approximately 40 years at the University of Sussex.

Kroto promoted science education and was a critic of religious faith.

## Questions

**When was Harry Kroto born?**  
Harry Kroto was born on 7 October 1939 in Wisbech.

**What positions has Harry Kroto held?**  
Positions held by Harry Kroto include: president of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2002–2004).

**Where did Harry Kroto study?**  
Harry Kroto was educated at University of Sheffield, Bolton School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Harry Kroto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Kroto) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q157250](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157250) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Hkroto.jpg by NIMSoffice (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hkroto.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Harry Kroto, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Hkroto.jpg — NIMSoffice, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Harry Kroto". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/harry-kroto. Retrieved 14 November 2026.