John Martin Thorp (1927 – 23 March 2017) was a New Zealand chemistry researcher, university lecturer, and the author of several books, including two autobiographies on his life as a trans man.
Born in 1927 in the United Kingdom, Thorp was educated at University of London, graduating with a BSc(Hons) in 1949 and PhD in 1951 with the title Preparation and adsorption properties of silica gels.
With the support of his friend (and future wife) Joan, who saved him from suicide, Thorp began his transition in the late 1950s with illegal and risky surgeries, and legally changed his name to John Martin in 1960.
[2][3][4] In 1960 Thorp and his first wife, Joan, moved to New Zealand to escape intense media scrutiny and to take up a position as a chemistry lecturer at University of Auckland.
[5] After several years of work in Auckland, Thorp was well-regarded as a scientist and in 1969 moved to Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand) (DSIR), where he remained until Joan developed heart problems in 1982.