Perkin, Sir William Henry (1838-1907), an English chemist, founded the aniline dye industry. At the age of 18, Perkin discovered a violet-colored dye while he was trying to make synthetic quinine. He and his father started a factory to make the aniline dye commercially.
Perkin’s other discoveries included synthetic tartaric acid, used in making effervescent beverages; cinnamic acid, used in medicine and perfume; and coumarin, used in the manufacture of perfume and food flavoring. Perkin also devised a method for the formation of unsaturated fatty acids, and worked on the polarization of light. Perkin was born in London, and attended the Royal College of Chemistry.
