Nobel-prize winning scientist Professor David MacMillan has revealed he wept tears of joy after being told he was to receive a knighthood.
The US-based Scot was recognised in the Queen’s Overseas and International birthday honours list for his outstanding contribution to chemistry.
Professor MacMillan, 54, originally from New Stevenston, Lanarkshire, won the Nobel Prize for chemistry last year for his groundbreaking work on the development of catalysts.
The Princeton University academic described how he received the news a couple of weeks ago when Dame Karen Pierce, the British Ambassador to the United States, called him.
He said: “As usual, I just started tearing up. You grow up as this working class kid in Scotland and then you find yourself on the phone in the middle of the night and someone’s telling you you’ve just been knighted by the Queen.
“Receiving a knighthood from the Queen is an extraordinarily proud moment for me and my family.
“I am truly humbled to be recognised by Her Majesty as part of the jubilee celebrations.”
In April, Professor MacMillan announced he is to donate more than £400,000 received in prize money to help Scottish pupils attend university.
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