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
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
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...
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...
Archimedes
Mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC.
Dr Bob McGuiness
Managing Director of NPL 2000 - 2005.