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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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

Raymond Gosling

Raymond Gosling

Raymond George Gosling was born on 15 July 1926 the son of George Leonard Gosling (1903-1970) and Lena Gosling née Guarniere (b.1904). His birth was registered in the Pancras registration district ...

Person, Science

2 memorials
Roger Bacon

Roger Bacon

Philosopher and Franciscan friar.  Born Somerset.  An early proponent of the modern scientific method.  He studied at Oxford where there is a statue.

Person, Religion, Science

1 memorial
Sir Julian Huxley

Sir Julian Huxley

Zoologist and philosopher.  Born 61 Russell Square.  Son of Leonard Huxley and grandson of zoologist Thomas Huxley.  Brother of novelist Aldous Huxley. Researched in support of Darwin's theory of e...

Person, Philosophy, Politics & Administration, Science

2 memorials
scientific life assurance

scientific life assurance

Equitable Life, the world's oldest mutual insurer, started business in 1762 in the parsonage of St Nicholas Acons in Nicholas Lane. It pioneered scientific life assurance by basing premiums on age ...

Concept, Commerce, Science

1 memorial
Fred Hoyle

Fred Hoyle

Sir Fred Hoyle FRS was an astronomer who held some controversial views. He coined the term"Big Bang", even though he rejected the theory, preferring the "steady-state model".  He also believed that...

Person, Science

1 memorial

Previously viewed

John McCormack

John McCormack

NW3, Ferncroft Avenue, 24

John McCormack, 1884 - 1945, lyric tenor, lived here, 1908 - 1913. English Heritage 

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Board of Ordnance / Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Board of Ordnance / Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Responsible for the supply of armaments and munitions to the army and the navy, based in the Tower of London and also used Verbruggen's House at the Woolwich Arsenal until 1939. Disbanded in 1855 d...

Group, Armed Forces

4 memorials
Marshall-Andrew & Co.

Marshall-Andrew & Co.

Building contractors.

Group, Property

1 memorial
J. Rees

J. Rees

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial
Geo. W. Clough

Geo. W. Clough

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial