Linus Carl Pauling (February 28, 1901–August 19, 1994) was an American chemist, peace activist, author, and educator. Pauling is one of only four individuals to have won multiple Nobel Prizes. He is one of only two people awarded two Nobel Prizes in different fields (the Chemistry and Peace prizes), the other being Marie Curie (the Chemistry and Physics prizes), and the only person awarded two unshared prizes.

Pauling was first exposed to the concepts of quantum mechanics while studying at Oregon State University. In Zürich, Pauling was also exposed to one of the first quantum mechanical analyses of bonding in the hydrogen molecule, done by Walter Heitler and Fritz London. In 1927, Pauling took a new position as an assistant professor at Caltech in theoretical chemistry. By 1929, he was promoted to associate professor, and by 1930, to full professor. In 1931, the American Chemical Society awarded Pauling the Langmuir Prize for the most significant work in pure science by a person 30 years of age or younger.

Pauling received numerous awards and honors during his career. Following are awards and honours he has received.
1931 Irving Langmuir Award, American Chemical Society
1941 Nichols Medal, New York Section, American Chemical Society
1947 Davy Medal, Royal Society
1948 United States Presidential Medal for Merit
1952 Pasteur Medal, Biochemical Society of France
1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
1955 Addis Medal, National Nephrosis Foundation
1955 Phillips Memorial Award, American College of Physicians
1956 Avogadro Medal, Italian Academy of Science
1957 Paul Sabatier Medal
1957 Pierre Fermat Medal in Mathematics
1957 International Grotius Medal
1961 Humanist of the Year, American Humanist Association
1962 Nobel Peace Prize
1965 Republic of Italy
1965 Medal, Academy of the Rumanian People's Republic
1966 Linus Pauling Award
1966 Silver Medal, Institute of France
1966 Supreme Peace Sponsor, World Fellowship of Religion
1968 Lenin Peace Prize
1974 United States National Medal of Science
1972 International Lenin Peace Prize
1977 Lomonosov Gold Medal, USSR Academy of Science
1979 Medal for Chemical Sciences, National Academy of Science
1984 Priestley Medal, American Chemical Society
1984 Award for Chemistry, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation
1987 Award in Chemical Education, American Chemical Society
1989 Vannevar Bush Award, National Science Board
1990 Richard C. Tolman Medal, American Chemical Society Southern California Section
2008 "American Scientists" U.S. postage stamp series, $0.41, for his sickle cell disease work