1822 – Louis Pasteur was born on the 27th of December in Jura, France.
1847 – He brought together the principles of crystallography, chemistry and optics. He formulated a fundamental law: asymmetry differentiates the organic world from the mineral world. His work became the basis of a new science called Stereochemistry.
1854 – He was named Dean of the new College of Science in Lille.
1856 – He became Administrator and Director of Scientific Studies of the École Normale Supérieure.
1862 – He invented a process wherein liquids such as milk were heated to kill most bacteria and molds already present within them. He completed the process with Claude Bernard on the 20th of April and the process became known as Pasteurization.
1865 – He studied silkworm disease. He was able to discover the infectious agents and was able to reveal how they are transmitted –by contagion and hereditary principle — and how to prevent them. By elaborating on his study of fermentation, he confirmed that each disease is caused by a specific microbe and that these microbes are foreign elements. Pasteur was able to establish the basic rules of sterilization or asepsis. Preventing contagion and infection, his method of sterilization revolutionized surgery and obstetrics.
1885 – He tested his rabies treatment on man and saved Joseph Meister.
1886 – He presented the results of his rabies treatment to the Academy of Sciences on the 1st of March. He also called for the creation of rabies vaccine center which became known as Pasteur Institute. The institure was founded as a clinic for rabies treatment, a research center for infectious disease and a teaching center.
1887 – The President of France, Jules Grévy recognized the Pasteur Institue.
1895 – He won the Leeuwenhoek medal which is granted to the most significant contribution to microbiology during the preceding decade.
– Died from complications of a series of strokes. He discovered the basis of vaccination and developed vaccines against chicken cholera, anthrax and swine erysipelas. He also discover three bacteria responsible for human illnesses: staphylococcus, streptococcus and pneumococcus. His work was continued and amplified throughout the world by his disciples, the Pasteuriens.