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...
Other Subjects
Sir Francis Galton
Biostatistician, human geneticist and eugenicist. Born at The Larches, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, a half-cousin of Charles Darwin. An enthusiastic traveller, particularly in Africa. Darwin's publicati...
1 memorial
Ambrose Godfrey
Apothecary. Born in Köthen (Anhalt). Also known as Ambrose Godfrey-Hanckwitz and Gottfried Hankwitz or Hanckewitz. In 1679 he travelled to London and became an assistant to Robert Boyle. They worke...
1 memorial
Dr Edmond Halley
Astronomer. born Haggerston, London. Correctly predicted the return of a comet in 1758 but died before the date. Invented the diving bell. Died Greenwich.
2 memorials
John Hopkinson
Born Manchester. Electrical engineer. Invented and patented the three-wire distribution system (if you've ever wired in a plug you will know what this means). Died, with three of his children, in...
1 memorial
Dr Alphonse Normandy
Full name: Dr Alphonse Rene Le Mire de Normandy. Born Rouen, France. He completed a medical course but then devoted himself to chemistry. Came to England in the late 1830s/early 1840s, initially li...
1 memorial
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