George Rieveschl
- September 27, 2007
- 91 years
- pneumonia
About George Rieveschl
George Rieveschl, 91, American inventor (Benadryl), pneumonia.
Explore other notable deaths in 2007 or deaths in September 2007.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know George Rieveschl?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|George Rieveschl (January 9, 1916 – September 27, 2007) was an American chemist and professor. He was the inventor of the popular antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which he first made while searching for potential muscle relaxant drugs.
Early life and education
Born in Arlington Heights, Ohio, Rieveschl was the son of George and Alma Hoffling Rieveschl. He initially attended the Ohio Mechanics Institute, graduating in 1933, before earning bachelors, masters, and PhD degrees in chemistry at the University of Cincinnati (UC).
Career
After receiving his PhD in 1940, Rieveschl returned to the University of Cincinnati where he served as a professor of chemical engineering, and later a professor of materials science. At the university, he led a research program searching for potential muscle relaxant drugs. In 1943, one of his students, Fred Huber, synthesized diphenhydramine. Rieveschl worked with Parke-Davis to test the compound, and the company licensed the patent from him. In 1947 Parke-Davis hired him as their director of research. While he was there, he led the development of a similar drug, orphenadrine.
Rieveschl remained active in the Cincinnati-area science and arts community until his death at age 91 from pneumonia. He had contributed an estimated $10 million to his alma mater, according to a UC spokeswoman.
The main life sciences building on the campus of the University of Cincinnati is named for Rieveschl.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Articles & News
Reported coverage of George Rieveschl; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about George Rieveschl on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Rieveschl
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 14 questions
Questions drawn from George Rieveschl's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was George Rieveschl born?
- A.Columbus, Ohio
- B.Cleveland, Ohio
- C.Arlington Heights, Ohiocorrect
- D.Cincinnati, Ohio
George Rieveschl was born in Arlington Heights, Ohio.
Source: Early life and education section
2.What is the name of the antihistamine medication George Rieveschl is famous for inventing?
- A.Penicillin
- B.Aspirin
- C.Benadrylcorrect
- D.Orphenadrine
George Rieveschl was the inventor of the popular antihistamine diphenhydramine, known as Benadryl.
Source: Introductory paragraph
3.At which institution did George Rieveschl earn his bachelors, masters, and PhD degrees?
- A.Ohio State University
- B.Ohio Mechanics Institute
- C.University of Cincinnaticorrect
- D.Parke-Davis Institute
George Rieveschl earned his bachelors, masters, and PhD degrees in chemistry at the University of Cincinnati.
Source: Early life and education section
4.In what year did George Rieveschl graduate from the Ohio Mechanics Institute?
- A.1947
- B.1940
- C.1933correct
- D.1943
George Rieveschl attended the Ohio Mechanics Institute, graduating in 1933.
Source: Early life and education section
5.What primary research goal was George Rieveschl pursuing when he discovered diphenhydramine?
- A.Antihistamines
- B.Materials science polymers
- C.Pneumonia treatments
- D.Muscle relaxant drugscorrect
George Rieveschl first made diphenhydramine while searching for potential muscle relaxant drugs.
Source: Introductory paragraph
6.Which student of George Rieveschl synthesized diphenhydramine in 1943?
- A.Alma Hoffling
- B.Parke Davis
- C.Fred Hubercorrect
- D.George Rieveschl
In 1943, one of George Rieveschl's students, Fred Huber, synthesized diphenhydramine.
Source: Career section
7.What role did George Rieveschl take on at Parke-Davis in 1947?
- A.Professor of chemical engineering
- B.Head of materials science
- C.Patent licensing agent
- D.Director of researchcorrect
In 1947, Parke-Davis hired George Rieveschl as their director of research.
Source: Career section
8.Besides diphenhydramine, what other drug did George Rieveschl lead the development of at Parke-Davis?
- A.Morphine
- B.Penicillin
- C.Codeine
- D.Orphenadrinecorrect
While working at Parke-Davis, George Rieveschl led the development of a similar drug, orphenadrine.
Source: Career section
9.What was the cause of death for George Rieveschl?
- A.Pneumoniacorrect
- B.Cancer
- C.Natural causes
- D.Heart failure
George Rieveschl died at age 91 from pneumonia.
Source: Introductory paragraph
10.What academic roles did George Rieveschl hold at the University of Cincinnati after earning his PhD in 1940?
- A.Director of research and chemistry
- B.Professor of chemical engineering and materials sciencecorrect
- C.Dean of science and arts
- D.President of the mechanics institute
George Rieveschl served as a professor of chemical engineering, and later a professor of materials science, at the University of Cincinnati.
Source: Career section
11.How is George Rieveschl honored on the campus of the University of Cincinnati?
- A.A scholarship fund
- B.A wing in the library
- C.A statue in the quad
- D.The main life sciences building is named for himcorrect
The main life sciences building on the campus of the University of Cincinnati is named for George Rieveschl.
Source: Career section
12.On what date was George Rieveschl born?
- A.January 9, 1916correct
- B.January 9, 1933
- C.September 27, 1940
- D.September 27, 2007
George Rieveschl was born on January 9, 1916.
Source: Introductory paragraph
13.In what year did George Rieveschl pass away?
- A.2008
- B.2007correct
- C.2005
- D.2006
George Rieveschl died on September 27, 2007.
Source: Introductory paragraph
14.What was the name of George Rieveschl's mother?
- A.Helen Huber
- B.Sarah Parke-Davis
- C.Mary Cincinnati
- D.Alma Hoffling Rieveschlcorrect
George Rieveschl was the son of George and Alma Hoffling Rieveschl.
Source: Early life and education section
People who died on September 27
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for George Rieveschl →Advertisement
