Albert Hofmann
Swiss chemist who first synthesized and experienced LSD's psychedelic effects.
Albert Hofmann (11 January 1906 – 29 April 2008) was a Swiss chemist. He is best known for first synthesizing, ingesting, and discovering the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). He also isolated, named, and synthesized the principal psychedelic mushroom compounds psilocybin and psilocin, and refined the understanding of chitin's structure in 1929.
- known_for
- First synthesis, ingestion, and discovery of psychedelic effects of LSD; isolati
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
He was baptized Protestant. When his father became ill, Hofmann worked as a commercial apprentice while studying. His godfather paid for his education. He studied the medicinal plant Drimia maritima (squill) and the fungus ergot. On 16 November 1938, he first synthesized LSD while researching lysergic acid derivatives, intending to create a respiratory and circulatory stimulant. The compound was set aside for five years. He rode his bicycle home during the effects. Hofmann later isolated and synthesized psilocybin and psilocin from Mexican mushrooms, and found that the active compound of the morning glory species Turbina corymbosa (ololiuqui) was ergine (LSA), closely related to LSD.
Reader's Guide
Albert Hofmann's significance lies in his accidental discovery of LSD's psychedelic properties, which profoundly influenced psychiatry, psychotherapy, and the counterculture of the 1960s. His research with LSD led to its use in psychotherapy by figures like Ronald A. Hofmann continued to take small doses of LSD throughout his life, viewing it as a 'sacred drug' that could aid meditation and mystical experience. He was frustrated by LSD's worldwide prohibition, calling it 'medicine for the soul' and noting its successful use in psychoanalysis for ten years before being misused and unfairly criticized. Hofmann acclaimed this study and reiterated his belief in LSD's therapeutic benefits. His legacy includes the isolation of psilocybin and psilocin, which remain important in psychedelic research, and his archive, now held at the Institute of Medical History in Bern, Switzerland.
Did You Know?
- Albert Hofmann first synthesized LSD on 16 November 1938, but the compound was set aside for five years before he discovered its effects.
- Hofmann isolated and synthesized psilocybin and psilocin from Mexican mushrooms, and found that the active compound of the morning glory species Turbina corymbosa (ololiuqui) was ergine (LSA).
- Hofmann earned his doctorate with distinction in 1929 for research on the chemical structure of chitin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Albert Hofmann?
Albert Hofmann was a Swiss chemist (1906–2008) who spent much of his career at Sandoz Laboratories in Basel. He is best remembered as the scientist who first created and experienced the psychedelic compound LSD.
What is Albert Hofmann's most famous achievement?
Hofmann is celebrated for synthesizing lysergic acid diethylamide and, after a small accidental exposure, recognizing its powerful psychedelic effects in 1943. His spontaneous bicycle ride that day became the iconic origin story of LSD.
Did Albert Hofmann work with psychedelic mushroom compounds?
Yes, he later isolated, named, and synthesized both psilocybin and psilocin, the active psychoactive molecules in certain mushrooms. This broadened his legacy from a single drug to the wider chemistry of natural-product psychedelics.
What did Albert Hofmann contribute to biochemistry before LSD?
In 1929 he refined the structural model of chitin, the polysaccharide that makes up arthropod exoskeletons. That early work established his skill in organic and carbohydrate chemistry well before he turned to ergot alkaloids.
What books and publications did Albert Hofmann author?
Across his career he published more than 100 scientific articles and several books. One of his most recognized titles is *LSD: Mein Sorgenkind* (LSD: My Problem Child), in which he reflected candidly on the social consequences of his discovery.
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