William Standish Knowles was an American chemist. He was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. Knowles was one of the recipients of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He split half the prize with Ryōji Noyori for their work in asymmetric synthesis, specifically for his work in hydrogenation reactions. The other half was awarded to K. Barry Sharpless for his work in oxidation reactions. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2001, announced October 10, 2001. William Knowles (1/4), “for their work on chirally catalysed hydrogenation reactions”. Ryoji Noyori (1/4), “for their work on chirally catalysed hydrogenation reactions”. K. Barry Sharpless (1/2), “for his work on chirally catalysed oxidation reactions”. William Knowles: born 1917, Taunton, MA, USA. Ryoji Noyori: born 1938, Kobe, Japan. K. Barry Sharpless: born 1941, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Wiki link Wiki link Wiki link Data: the Nobel Foundation (CC0).