Before William Henry Perkin invented Mauve dye in 1856, there were no synthetic dyes available. But the only natural source of purple dye is a species of predatory sea snail called the Murex snail.

Sir William Perkin A century ago a young English chemistry student made a mauve-colored dye from coal tar, thus launching one of the central themes of the modern chemical industry By John Read ...

His name is William Perkin. When he started his career ... Thanks to Perkin the 1890s are now affectionately known as the mauve decade. Perkin helped usher in the dawn of organic chemistry ...

Distinguished guests from all over the UK descended on London to honour the 150th anniversary of William Perkin's discovery of the first synthetic dye, mauveine. The celebrations were jointly ...