Person    | Male  Born 29/12/1813  Died 29/6/1890

Alexander Parkes

Categories: Science

Born Birmingham. Initially worked on improved methods of electroplating. 1856 patented Parkesine, a celluloid recognised as the first man-made plastic (chewing gum, shellac and natural rubber are all classified as plastics).

1866 he set up The Parkesine Company at Hackney Wick intending to manufacture Parkesine cheaply in bulk but this was not successful and closed in 1868. Died London.

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:
Alexander Parkes

Commemorated ati

Alexander Parkes and Parkesine

First plastic in the world, known as 'parkesine', invented by Alexander Parke...

Read More

Other Subjects

LEO - Lyons Electronic Office

LEO - Lyons Electronic Office

The world's first business computer was built and operated by J. Lyons & Co. The LEO website provides: In October 1947, the directors of J. Lyons & Company, a British catering company famo...

Concept, Commerce, Science

1 memorial
Sir Arthur Eddington

Sir Arthur Eddington

Astronomer. mathematician and physicist. Born Arthur Stanley Eddington in Kendal, Westmorland. He is famous for his work concerning the theory of relativity, and wrote a number of articles explaini...

Person, Science

2 memorials
William Tegetmeier

William Tegetmeier

Naturalist and journalist. Born William Bernhardt Tegetmeier at High Street, Colnbrook Buckinghamshire. A founding member of the Savage Club, and a writer and journalist. He befriended Charles Darw...

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Science

1 memorial
George Maule

George Maule

Chemist and dye manufacturer. See Atlas Dyeworks and Nicholson. From Grace's Guide: Born Lancashire. 1861 living in Newington. 1868 retired. 1871 living in Brighton. Died London.

Person, Science

1 memorial
Thomas Earnshaw

Thomas Earnshaw

Born Ashton under Lyme, Lancashire. Maker of watches and chronometers. Lived and worked mainly in London and Greenwich. He seems to have been a bitter man with whom it was unpleasant to do business...

Person, Commerce, Science

1 memorial