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

Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky

Linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, logician, historian, political critic, and activist.  A prominent intellectual and cultural figure.  Born Pennsylvania. 

Person, History, Philosophy, Politics & Administration, Science, USA

1 memorial
Royal Institution (of Great Britain)

Royal Institution (of Great Britain)

A group of men started meeting at Gresham College and formed a society to promote experimental knowledge. Achieved the royal charter in 1662. Still in its original premises in Albemarle Street. Mi...

Group, Science

4 memorials
Sir William Ramsay

Sir William Ramsay

Born at 2 Queen's Crescent, Glasgow. he studied in Tübingen and Glasgow. Following the discovery of helium, it occurred to him that there was room in the periodic table for a new eighth group of el...

Person, Science, Germany, Scotland

1 memorial
Archimedes

Archimedes

Mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer.  c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC.

Person, Science, Greece

2 memorials
Dr Bob McGuiness

Dr Bob McGuiness

Managing Director of NPL 2000 - 2005.

Person, Politics & Administration, Science, Scotland

1 memorial