THE  JOHN  SCOTT  AWARD
PHILADELPHIA, PA

The John Scott Award Recipients
From  1822 - present

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COMPLETE   LIST 1822-Present

By year:
Current Year.......


      2011-2020
2001-2010
1991-2000
1981-1990
1971-1980
1961-1970
1951-1960
1941-1950
1931-1940
1921-1930
1911-1920
1901-1910
1891-1900
1881-1890
1871-1880
1861-1870
 1851-1860
1841-1850  1831-1840  1822-1830

 
The John Scott Award is given to "the most deserving" men and women whose inventions have contributed in some outstanding way to the "comfort, welfare and happiness" of mankind.

The donor, John Scott, was an Edinburgh druggist who in the early 1800s set up a fund calling upon the "Corporation of Philadelphia entrusted with the management of Dr. Franklin's legacy" to bestow upon "ingenious men or women who make useful inventions" a premium not to exceed twenty dollars and a suitably inscribed copper medal.

Why Scott chose an American city to administer his bequest is not known, although it is believed he had a longstanding interest in America and appreciated the achievements of Benjamin Franklin.

The first awards were made in 1822.  Through the years, awards have been made internationally for the inventions in industry, agriculture, manufacturing, science, and medicine.

In this century, most of the awards have gone to contributors to science and medicine.  Awards have recognized significant contributions in prevention of yellow fever and malaria, and in the development of penicillin and streptomycin.  Among the recipients are Mme. Curie, Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers, Edwin Land, Jonas Salk, Irving Langmuir, Glenn Seaborg, Frederick G. Banting, Guglielmo Marconi, John Bardeen, and Sir Joseph H. Thomson.  Awardees Dr. Kary B. Mullis and Professor Richard E. Smalley recently won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Nominations of individuals for the award are made by a committee of Philadelphians to the Board of Directors of City Trusts of the City of Philadelphia.  Reflecting the increased value of the John Scott Trust account, the award includes a substantial cash payment, in addition to the copper medal and a certificate.

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