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 Ashton Lever
Natural history collector. Born at the family seat near Manchester where he also died. His museum was at Leicester House on the northern side of Leicester Square and called the Holophusikon, or Hol...
1 memorial
John Harrison (clocks)
Inventor of the marine chronometer. Born Yorkshire. Died London. Buried at St John's Church, Hampstead, strangely, since he died in Red Lion Square and had no connections with Hampstead. The pictu...
1 memorial
Ada Countess of Lovelace
Mathematician and computer pioneer. Born 13 Piccadilly Terrace, daughter of Lord Byron. Brought up by her mother and directed towards science rather than the arts, in fear that otherwise she might ...
1 memorial
Reginald Ruggles Gates
Husband to Marie Stopes, botanist and geneticist. Born Nova Scotia, Canada. His marriage to Marie Stopes was a very public failure. Co-authored a book entitled "The Inheritance of Hairy Ear Ri...
1 memorial
Rosalind Franklin
Crystallographer. Born Chepstow Villas. Worked on DNA X-ray diffraction studies at King's College London with Gosling, Stokes, Wilkins and Wilson. She was responsible for the photograph taken in Ma...
4 memorials
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F. E. Smith, Earl Birkenhead
Lawyer and politician. Born Frederick Edwin Smith in Pilgrim Street, Birkenhead. Called to the bar in 1899 and entered parliament in 1906. He became Attorney-General and Lord Chancellor. Successful...
1 memorial
A. H. Blackman, Jnr.
Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.
War served, WW1
1 memorial
Nike Statue - Plaque 1
SE18, Number 1 Street, Main Guardhouse
{Below an image of the Olympic torch:} A gift from the people of ancient Olympia to the people of London. To commemorate the hosting of t...
1 subject commemorated
Billy Smart's Circus
The first appearance of the Billy Smart Circus was at Southall Park.
2 memorials
Fountains Abbey Public House
W2, Praed Street, 109
Fountains Abbey - Paddington W2 Paddington has always adequately provided hospitality for travellers in the form of local ale houses. T...
2 subjects commemorated
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