The scientist amassed more than 840 patents during his career-long tenure at Monsanto Co. John E. Franz, the longtime Monsanto Co. chemist who is named on more than 840 patents and is most remembered for discovering the glyphosate class of herbicides, died April 27 at the age of 96. The award-winning scientist leaves behind an unrivaled legacy on our modern agricultural industry. Franz was born Dec. 21, 1929, and grew up in Springfield, Illinois.