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
Joseph Addison
Politician and writer. Born Milston, Wiltshire.
1 memorial
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...
1 memorial
Television
See Londonist's excellent post How Television Was Invented In London. We love it when our friends do the work for us!
3 memorials
William Shipley
Drawing master, social reformer and inventor. Wikipedia's page differs significantly from the Oxford Dictionary of National Bigraphy. They agree that he was born in Kent and trained as a painter. H...
1 memorial
Sir Alexander Fleming
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6 memorials
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Tony Hancock
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6 memorials
Carpenters' Hall - Inigo Jones
EC2, London Wall, 1 Throgmorton Avenue
This memorial used to be in Puzzle Corner until walking guide Ian Swankie pointed out the unarguable resemblance to Inigo Jones.
1 subject commemorated
Private Arthur John Pooley
Arthur John Pooley was born in Notting Hill Gate, Middlesex (now Greater London), the only child of John and Mary Anne Pooley. His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1894 in the Kensington ...
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
John Tallis
Cartographic publisher. He set up as a publisher with Frederick Tallis in Cripplegate in 1842, moving to Smithfield in 1846. The company published views of London and world atlases. He started 'The...
1 memorial
Murder on the Orient Express
Detective novel by Agatha Christie, featuring Hercule Poirot.
1 memorial
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