Friedrich Adolf Paneth, 1887-1958

Friedrich Adolf Paneth was born in Vienna on 31 August 1887. His father, Dr Joseph Paneth, was a well-known physiologist and the discoverer of certain histological cells which still bear his name. His mother Sophie (née Schwab) was the daughter of an industrialist who was, for a time, a representative in the Austrian parliament. She had been given a classical education, which was rare at that time for a girl, and had a keen interest in the natural sciences and philosophy. Fritz had two brothers, one older and one younger, and, though both parents were of Jewish descent, the three children were brought up in the Protestant faith. He was first taught at home, but later attended Vienna’s renowned Schotten Gymnasium. He was conscientious in his school work and was also endowed throughout his life with an unusual delicacy of touch, so that it was a pleasure to watch his manipulations of familiar as well as of scientific objects. At school he was a good gymnast and later developed more than average skill as a skier, as well as becoming a keen climber. Another major interest was photography. He took up colour photography in 1908, when it was still in the experimental stage; his early achievements in this field would have been impossible without his extraordinary inborn patience. The results compare favourably in selectivity of the view and beauty of tone with many more recent efforts, and form a valuable record of one side of a full life.