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
Hertha Ayrton
Electrical engineer and suffragist. Born Phoebe Sarah Marks in Portsmouth. Aged 16 began teaching in London. Studied maths at Girton College Cambridge. Married William Ayrton in 1885. Elected ...
First Electric Telegraph
Telegraphic messages were first sent successfully by Sir Francis Ronalds using an eight mile long grid in his back garden in Hammersmith. He tried to interest the Admiralty in his invention, but th...
Edward Somerset, second Marquess of Worcester
Courtier and scientist. Called Lord Herbert. Catholic. In the court of King Charles I.
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...
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin, father of the theory of evolution and natural selection. Born at Shrewsbury. Grandfathers: Erasmus Darwin and Josiah Wedgwood. Independently wealthy. Once he returned from th...
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