William Henry Perkin
1838–1907
Chemist. Studied at the Royal College of Chemistry, 1853–6. In 1856, discovered the first aniline dye, aniline purple, by accident while attempting to synthesise quinine. Opened a chemical factory in 1858; pooled resources with BASF, 1869–70. After selling the business in 1873, devoted himself to pure chemical research at home. FRS 1866; royal medallist, 1879. Knighted, 1906.
Source
ODNB.
Bibliography
ODNB: Oxford dictionary of national biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000. (Revised edition.) Edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. 60 vols. and index. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2004.
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