The King and an Inventor. DISCOVERER OF MAUVE RECEIVES A KNIGHTHOOD.

Progress, Volume II, Issue I, 1 November 1906, Page 24

The King and an Inventor. DISCOVERER OF MAUVE RECEIVES A KNIGHTHOOD.

The King has been graciously pleased to confer the honour of knighthood upon Mr. Edwin Thomas Ann, JP , Mayor of Derby, and Dr. William Henry Perkin, F R S. Dr. Perkm was the discoverer of the dye-stuff " mauve." by which the foundation was laid of the coal-tar colour industry, and an official communication from the Prime Minister's residence states that at the international celebration of the coal-tar colour jubilee on July 26 Dr. Perkm received presentations and addresses from English and foreign societies The story of Dr. Perkins discovery is an interesting one. While acting as assistant m the research laboratory of the Royal College of Chemistry under Professor Hofmann in 1856, Dr Perkin attempted in his own laboratory to effect the synthesis of quinine with a view to preparing it artificially. In this he failed, but to study the products actually formed he selected a substance, aniline, which could be prepared from benzine, a constituent of coal-tar. The aniline was treated with an oxidising agent, when a black precipitate was obtained which was found to contain a brilliant colouring matter since known as aniline purple, or mauve. Further investigation showed that the colouring matter had the properties of a dye. Dr. Perkin took out a patent, and in 1857, with his father and brother, set up works at Greenford Green, near Harrow In 1874 Dr. Perkin retired from business and devoted himself to scientific investigations.