Gerhard Heinrich Friedrich Otto Julius Herzberg, PC CC FRSC FRS[1] (German: [ˈɡeːɐ̯.haʁt ˈhɛʁt͡sˌbɛʁk] ⓘ; December 25, 1904 – March 3, 1999) was a German-Canadian pioneering physicist and physical chemist, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1971, "for his contributions to the knowledge of electronic structure and geometry of molecules, particularly free radicals".

He is well known for using these techniques that determine the structures of diatomic and polyatomic molecules, including free radicals which are difficult to investigate in any other way, and for the chemical analysis of astronomical objects.

His wife and fellow researcher, Luise Herzberg, was Jewish so they began making plans to leave Germany near the end of 1933.

Leaving Germany was a daunting task as many barriers faced the thousands of Germans trying to flee Nazi persecution.

However Herzberg had earlier worked with a visiting physical chemist named John Spinks, from the University of Saskatchewan.

[7] After completing high school at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums, Herzberg continued his education at Darmstadt University of Technology with the help of a private scholarship.

[2] During the presentation speech, it was noted that at the time of the award, Herzberg was "generally considered to be the world's foremost molecular spectroscopist.

"[16] Herzberg was honoured with memberships or fellowships by a very large number of scientific societies, received many awards and honorary degrees in different countries.