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Alfred Henri Aftalion (2 May 1922 – 24 May 2022), better known as Fred Aftalion, was a French chemical engineer who held leadership positions in the French chemical industry for three decades.[1] He also served as Vice-President of ALEPS, the Association pour la Liberté Economique et le Progrès Social (Association of Liberal Economists).[2] He wrote and commented on economics and politics from a viewpoint of economic liberalism via ALEPS[3] and Radio Courtoisie.[4]
Fred Aftalion | |
|---|---|
 Aftalion in 2014 | |
| Born | Alfred Henri Aftalion 2 May 1922 Paris, France |
| Died | 24 May 2022 (aged 100) Paris, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | École nationale supérieure de chimie de Paris |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemical engineering |
| Institutions | Société Française d’Organo-Synthèse |
He wrote a number of books dealing with chemistry, industry and society. In 2014, he received the Franklin-Lavoisier Prize for his writings on the history of the international chemical industry.[5]
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Alfred Henri "Fred" Aftalion was born on 2 May 1922 to Jacques Aftalion and Renée (Haime) Aftalion.[6] Aftalion graduated from the École nationale supérieure de chimie de Paris, where he studied chemical engineering.[1] He also studied with Herman Mark, head of the Polymer Institute of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1946.[5]
Aftalion became an engineer with Hercules Inc., working in the United States and Latin America. He returned to France in 1951 and joined the petrochemical company Naphtachimie.[5]
In 1956, he became manager of the Société Française d’Organo-Synthèse (SFOS), a specialty chemicals company which was part of the French pharmaceutical house Laboratoire Roger Bellon. Aftalion directed the company for the next three decades. During this time, the company moved from a 50/50 split between pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals, to a 20/80 split.[1] After Rhône-Poulenc acquired an interest in Roger Bellon in 1964, Aftalion became a board member of Rhône-Poulenc Spécialités Chimiques.[5]
Aftalion served as president of the Société La Vermiculite et la Perlite from 1967 to 1973.[7] He served on the Boards of Directors of Total Chimie and of the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie in Paris, France.[5][8]
Aftalion became a member of the Mont Pelerin Society in 1971.[9] He was vice-president of ALEPS, the Association pour la Liberté Economique et le Progrès Social (Association of Liberal Economists)[2] He spoke and wrote on economic and political issues[3] from a viewpoint of Economic liberalism via ALEPS[3] and Radio Courtoisie.[4]
His book Histoire de la chimie, translated as A History of the International Chemical Industry, describes the rise of the chemical industry in the international community. It traces connections between science, industry and society. Aftalion received the 2014 Franklin-Lavoisier Prize for his writing on chemistry, industry and society.[5]
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Aftalion died on 24 May 2022, at the age of 100.[10] His funeral took place in Paris on 1 June 2022. He was survived by two daughters and grandchildren.[citation needed]
- 2012, Pourquoi ne pas le dire? by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. du Trident, c2012.
- 2007, Histoire de la révolution bourgeoise : de ses origines à nos jours by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. du Trident, 2007.
- 1995, Protection de l'environnement : pour que de fausses solutions ne deviennent pas de vrais problèmes by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Ed. France-Empire, 1995.
- 1993, Social-démocratie, dernier avatar du socialisme : histoire d'une utopie, 1945-1993 by Fred Aftalion. Paris : France-Empire, c1993.
- 1991, History of the international chemical industry by Fred Aftalion ; translated by Otto Theodor Benfey. Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press, c1991; Philadelphia, PA : Chemical Heritage Press, 2001.
- 1990, Faillite de l'économie administrée : le paradoxe français by Fred Aftalion. Paris : Presses universitaires de France, c1990.
- 1988, Histoire de la chimie by Fred Aftalion. Paris ; Milan : Masson, 1988.
- 1967, Libres, égaux, fraternels? by Fred Aftalion. [Paris] Plon, 1967.
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- 3 April 2014, Franklin-Lavoisier Prize, Chemical Heritage Foundation and the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie[11][12]
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