Williamson & Corder Ltd
Robert Williamson (1853-1914)
Born September 21st 1853 - died September 24th 1914.
Robert Williamson was born in North Shields and was the fourth son of the
late George Williamson, Esq. He was educated first at a local school in
North Shields, and subsequently entered the High School at Edinburgh, where
he remained for six years, and it was here that he showed his first taste
for science, and decided to adopt chemistry as a career.
His ability was indeed so marked that soon after leaving school he was
accepted as assistant to the late John Pattinson, who practised as a public
analyst, and in those days had a high reputation throughout the North of
England.
Feeling. however, the need for further study, and desiring rather to become
a technical chemist than a professional analyst, he did not remain long in
this position, but proceeded to the Royal College of Chemistry, then under
the direction of Prof, afterwards Sir Edward, Frankland. His progress here
was rapid, and at the conclusion of the course he was at once recommended as
suitable for the post then vacant of research assistant to the late Sir
William, then Mr W H Perkin. At this period the colour factory of Perkin and
Sons at Greenford Green was in its zenith, and although Williamson was not
employed actually in the works, being indeed placed in the external
laboratory in the Greenford Road, he found his work peculiarly interesting.
There is unfortunately no actual record of his concern with any special
investigation carried on at this time, but there can be little doubt that in
addition to the examination of factory products, he took part in work on
anthrapurpurin and anthraflavic acid, both of which were discovered at or
about that period.
Williamson was naturally disappointed when in 1874 the Greenford factory
passed into the hands of Messrs Brooke, Simpson, and Spiller, but, on the
other hand, although he could have obtained service with the new firm he did
not do so, in the hope that he might still participate, in colour chemistry
problems similar to those in which he had formerly been engaged.
To a certain extent his anticipations were realised, and although he was
always proud of his connexion with the ‘‘Perkin reaction’’ which shortly
afterwards emanated from the new Sudbury laboratory, by preference he would
rather have been entirely engaged in the study of dyestuffs.
Feeling now that his apprenticeship must cease, he accepted an engagement as
chemist in the City laboratory of Messrs. Nelson, Dale and Co., the
well-known gelatine manufacturers, and it is there 110 doubt that he
acquired a taste for this subject which proved of service to him in later
years.
In the meantime the factory of Perkin and Sons, which had been purchased by
Messrs. Brooke, Simpson, and Spiller, passed into the hands of Messrs Burt,
Boulton, and Haywood (now the British Alizarin Co.), who removed the
manufacture from Greenford to a site at Silvertown adjacent to their tar
distillery. An opportunity of entering this factory was readily accepted by
Williamson, and here after a short period of laboratory work he was placed
in charge of the anthraquinone process, Mr Thomas Royle being general
manager.
The tenure of the alizarin patents was now approaching conclusion, and
attempts were made by the manufacturers to ensure if possible their monopoly
for a further period. At this juncture the late Mr. Josiah Hardman, on
behalf of his firm, Messrs Hardman and Co. (now Hardman and Holdens), of
Miles Platting, Manchester, decided to start the manufacture of alizarin,
and having safeguarded himself, by entering into satisfactory contracts,
engaged Williamson to erect and manage the factory.
That Williamson readily undertook these duties speaks highly for his courage
and ability, for even at the present time the preparation of alizarin on the
large scale is one of the most complex technical processes.
A severe handicap he had to face was the quality of the anthracene available
in the district, for this, derived from Lancashire tar, as was well known,
is far inferior to that produced in Newcastle and the district. This arises
from the fact that in the Lancashire variety, in addition to traces of
paraffin wax, a considerable quantity of P-methylanthracene is present, the
alizarin derived from this possessing inferior dyeing virtues to that
obtainable from anthracene itself. These difficulties at that time, new to
Williamson, were only overcome by exhaustive experiment, but he was,
however, able when the factory he had designed was nearing completion, to
feel certain he could produce a satisfactory material, an assumption he
later fully justified.
Of the factory he erected for Messrs. Hardman and Holdens Williamson was
exceedingly proud, and justly so, for it was universally acknowledged by
those permitted to inspect it, to be a model from which the colour works in
this country and elsewhere might. well take an example.
The manufacture continued there for several years,’ and as the result of its
working there is no doubt that the firm reaped substantial benefit. More
latterly, however, the fall in price rendered its continuation without
additional plant extension hardly worth while, and the margin even then
being small, the factory was eventually reconverted and employed, as is
still the case, for other purposes.
About four years before this occurred, Williamson removed to Middlesbrough,
and was engaged in the manufacture of alizarin at the works of Messrs Sadler
and Co, who had entered the field at a date later than Messrs Hardman and
Holdens.
Subsequently he returned to Newcastle, where he eventually settled and
started, in conjunction with Mr. Walter Corder under the name of Williamson
& Corder, a gelatine factory, which is carried on at the present time, and
is highly successful.
Although Williamson could without doubt have done well as a pure chemist, as
the research he published (On Some Metallic Derivatives of Coumarin, J.
Chern. Soc., 1875, 28, 850) while at Sudbury indicates, he was at heart a
technologist, and appeared never to be so happy as when surrounded by the
hum of factory life.
As the writer knew him, he possessed great energy, was calm in the face of
unexpected difficulty, and courageous to a degree when occasion required.
He possessed the happy gift, so essential to a works manager, of controlling
men, with whom, although firm, he was always lenient and on terms of good
fellowship.
Elected to the Chemical Society on December 24th, 1874, he became during his
stay in the south, a well known figure at the Ordinary Meetings, and later
when this attendance was no longer possible he interested himself in the
scientific societies of those other towns in which he for the time resided.
More recently he became absorbed in his own business, and was rarely present
in
scientific circles. He was one of the earlier Fellows of the Institute of
Chemistry, which he joined in 1878.
After a period of ill-health, he went3 to Scarborough in the hope of
deriving benefit from the change, but unfortunately this did not prove to be
the case, and he died suddenly on September 24th, 1914, at the age of
sixty-one.
Williamson was a Conservative in politics, a member of the Church of
England, and was unmarried.
By his death the last of the little group of chemists who were connected
with Sir William Perkin’s colour factory at Greenford has now passed away.
Walter Shewell Corder (1861-1934)
Born in 1861 at 18 Bede Terrace, Bishopwearmouth, Durham
1871 at 24 Fawcett Street, Bishopwearmouth
1881 apprentice chemist at Swan Lane Chemist Warehouse, Norwich St Andrew, Norfolk.
1891 married Margaret Lindsay Watson (1864-1940) daughter of William Lindsay & Katherine Watson of St Cuthbert's Church, Marton, Yorkshire. Children Eileen (1841-1993), Michael Westray (1901-?)
1892 co-founder of Williamson & Corder
1901 gelatine, glue & manure manufacturer, employer of 4, Rosella Place, Preston, Tynemouth, Northumberland
1911 gelatine & glue manufacturer, employer of 4, Rosella Place, North Shields, Northumberland
1920 first Chairman of British Glues and Chemicals
1920s Secretary of Guarantors of the Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir
Walter Corder was a photographer and antiquarian of note in the North East.
1933 died at 4 Rosella Place, North Shields.
1934 obituary in Archaeologia Aeliana 4.11:121-6
( thanks to © 2010 Benjamin S Beck)
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