1839-1909, chemical manufacturer and industrialist, German born; British

1862 - moved to England to work at John Hutchinson & Co. in Widnes.

1864 - worked in Utrecht, Holland.

1867 - began his involvement in chemical business affairs by forming a partnership with John Hutchinson.

1880 - became a naturalized British subject.

1872 - met Ernest Solvay and purchased rights to operate Solvay's process for making soda.

1888 - became president of the Lancashire Chemical Society which grew into the nationwide Society of Chemical Industry.

1891 - elected to fellowship of the Royal Society.

1908 - elected to membership of the German Chemical Society and of the Società Reale of Naples.

1909 - elected to membership of the Prussian Akademie der Wissenschaften.

1884 - moved from Winnington, Cheshire to London until his death.