Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952), chemist and first President of Israel. Born in Russia and educated in Germany, Weizmann moved to Britain in 1904 to continue his scientific career. He won acclaim for developing a method for producing synthetic acetone, a chemical used in the manufacture of cordite explosive. He was involved in Zionist activities all his life, achieving the Balfour Declaration of British sympathy for Zionist aims in Palestine in 1917. In 1949 he was elected the first President of the State of Israel. This portrait is from the Bain News Service, one of America's oldest news picture agencies, which holds images dating from the 1890s to the 1930s.