Person    | Male  Born 12/3/1838  Died 14/7/1907

Sir William Henry Perkin, FRS

Categories: Science

Chemist. Born King David's Lane, Shadwell. While a student at the Royal College of Chemistry, aged 18 he discovered the first aniline dyestuff while working in his home laboratory. He dropped out of college and with his family's support he opened a chemical factory at Greenford Green (where there is now a plaque) and began manufacturing the dye, the first mauve. His plaque says that he "went on to found science-based industry". We understand the words (and discovered that SBI is even a recognised acronyn) but aren't too sure of the significance since we would have thought that SBI dates back to at least the beginning of the industrial revolution in the 18th century. Died at home in Sudbury.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir William Henry Perkin, FRS

Commemorated ati

Sir William Perkin

Sir William Henry Perkin, FRS, discovered the first aniline dyestuff, March 1...

Read More

Other Subjects

Lyon Playfair

Lyon Playfair

One of the Special Commissioners for the Great Exhibition 1851. Born in Bengal. Chemist. 1st Baron Playfair. Died at home in South Kensington.

Person, Politics & Administration, Science, Bengal, Scotland

1 memorial
John Heathcoat

John Heathcoat

Inventor and businessman. Born Derbyshire. Invented a machine for manufacturing a new type of lace, bobbin net, and went on to manufacture and sell lace. 1815 he bought a mill in Tiverton, moved th...

Person, Commerce, Industry, Science

1 memorial
LEO Computers Society

LEO Computers Society

From the Picture source: "This is the site of the LEO Computers Society celebrating the World's first business computer. Membership of the Society is open to: all ex-employees of LEO Computers and ...

Group, Commerce, Community / Clubs, History, Science

1 memorial
Thomas Huxley

Thomas Huxley

Thomas Henry Huxley. Biologist and anthropologist. Born Ealing.  An early adherent to Darwin's theory of evolution, he was a strong supporter while also pointing out what he saw as flaws.  At the R...

Person, Education, Race Issues, Science

2 memorials
Lord Kelvin

Lord Kelvin

Mathematical physicist and engineer. Born Belfast. His family moved to Glasgow when he was aged 11. Worked in thermodynamics and on the transatlantic cable. 1st Baron Kelvin. Died Largs Ayrshire.

Person, Science, Ireland, Scotland

5 memorials