Percy Lavon Julian was born in Montgomery, Alabama, as the first child of James Sumner Julian and Elizabeth Lena Julian. Percy was raised by parents who placed great importance on education. His mother, Elizabeth, was a schoolteacher. Percy's father, James, was a railroad clerk for the U.S. postal system. Percy attended school through eighth grade in Alabama public schools. Going to high school wasn't an option for Percy, since he was black. But that didn't stop Percy from going to college to pursue his dream. Percy Lavon Julian applied to DePauw University, where he had to take high school classes at night to catch up with his classmates. It was very difficult for Percy, but he kept trying and eventually graduated first in his class, with Phi Beta Kappa honors. After college, Julian accepted the position of chemistry instructor at Fisk University. He left after receiving a scholarship to attend Harvard University to complete his master's degree in 1923. In 1929, after the disappointment of not being able to continue his doctoral studies, Julian received a Rockefeller Foundation scholarship to study with the eminent chemist Ernst Späth at the University of Vienna. Then he traveled everywhere for several years teaching in black schools. Percy later lost his professorship at Howard University after an affair with a colleague's wife. He then interviewed at DuPont and many other chemical companies, all of whom lost interest when they discovered Percy was black. Instead, he became director of research at the Glidden Company, where he supervised white chemists. There he made some very interesting discoveries, like how to make steroids from natural resources. Then after several years, Percy decided...... middle of article ......01:39 http://www.biography. com/people/percy-julian-9359018. Angulo, Patricia, Michelle Bernard and Mohammed Termaski. “Percy Lavon Julien.” Np, November 22, 2012. Web. February 27, 2014 http://www.csupomona.edu/~nova/scientists/articles/juli.html.Johnson, Sally. “The Life of Percy Lavon Julian.” . Np, January 31, 2010. Web. February 27, 2014. http://www.depauw.edu/news-media/latest-news/details/22969/.Hawk, Heather. “Percy Julien.” . Np, September 14, 2004. Web. February 27, 2014. http://www.nndb.com/people/957/000160477. Flaze, Alexander. “Percy Julien.” . Np, January 21, 2006. Web. February 27, 2014. http://www.blackinventor.com/pages/percy-julian.html. Hanington, Tom. “Giants of the Past Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975).” . Np, June 27, 2008. Internet. February 27 2014.