Albert Hofmann was a Swiss chemist best known for discovering LSD, a powerful hallucinogenic drug. In 1938, while working at Sandoz Laboratories, he first synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide but did not realize its psychoactive properties until 1943, when he accidentally ingested a small amount. Hofmann's research on LSD significantly influenced the fields of psychology and psychiatry, particularly in the study of altered states of consciousness. He also explored the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelics, contributing to the broader understanding of psychedelic substances and their effects on the human mind.