William Allen (Quaker)

:This article discusses the Quaker philanthropist and scientist. For other uses see William Allen (disambiguation)

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William Allen (August 29, 1770 – September 30, 1843) was a prominent Quaker scientist and philanthropist in England. He was a founding member of the Askesian Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and founder of the pharmaceutical company Allen and Hanbury, which grew steadily until acquired by Glaxo Wellcome in the 1980s.

Related Topics:
August 29 - 1770 - September 30 - 1843 - Quaker - Scientist - Philanthropist - England - Askesian Society - Royal Society - Glaxo Wellcome - 1980s

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Allen was the oldest son of Job and Margaret (Stafford) Allen. His father was a silk manufacturer and devout Quaker.

Related Topics:
Silk - Manufacturer - Devout - Quaker

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In 1792, he was working as a clerk, but went to lectures at Guy's Hospital and St. Thomas's Hospital. He also attended the meetings of various scientific societies. In 1794, he became a member of the Chemical Society of Guy's Hospital. In 1795, he became a partner in the chemical (pharmaceutical) company that he had been working in. It was then named Mildred and Allen.

Related Topics:
1792 - Clerk - 1794 - 1795

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In 1796, Allen joined the Physical Society at Guy's Hospital. That same year he and some like-minded scientists formed the Askesian Society to encourage scientific research and experimentation. Later that year Allen married Mary Hamilton. Ten months later she died, two days after their daughter, also named Mary, was born.

Related Topics:
1796 - Askesian Society

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In 1797 the chemical company became Allen and Howard. Allen's friend and partner Luke Howard opened a second laboratory for the development of new chemicals. During a famine that year Allen started the Soup Society to provide food for starving people.

Related Topics:
1797 - Laboratory - Famine

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When William Allen's father Job died in 1800, the latter's assistant took over the silk business, as William had already decided to keep working in the field of chemistry.

Related Topics:
1800 - Silk - Business - Chemistry

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In 1804 he became a close friend of Humphrey Davy.

Related Topics:
1804 - Humphrey Davy

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Allen was elected to membership Committee of the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1805.

Related Topics:
Abolition of the Slave Trade - 1805

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Howard and Allen became separate firms in 1806. Later that year Allen married Charlotte Hanbury.

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In 1807 Allen became a member of the Royal Society.

Related Topics:
1807 - Royal Society

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In 1810 he became treasurer of the Royal Lancastrian Society, whose aim was to open progressive schools in England and abroad. It was renamed the British and Foreign School Society in 1814, and Allen was again its treasurer. In 1810 he also helped found the Peace Society.

Related Topics:
1810 - Treasurer - Royal Lancastrian Society - 1814 - Peace Society

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In 1811 he began publishing, with the support of James Mill, a journal called the Philanthropist. It pusblished articles by Mill and by Jeremy Bentham.

Related Topics:
James Mill - Jeremy Bentham

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William and Charlotte Allen visited the continent in 1816. Charlotte died during their travels.

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From 1818-1820 Allen toured Europe with the Quaker evangelist Stephen Grellet.

Related Topics:
1818 - 1820 - Europe - Quaker - Evangelist - Stephen Grellet

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In 1823 Allen's daughter Mary and her husband Cornelius Hanbury had a son, but Mary died nine days later. The social activist Elizabeth Fry nursed the baby after that.

Related Topics:
1823 - Elizabeth Fry

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From 1824 to 1838 Allen ran a Quaker school for girls at Fleetwood House and in its park-like grounds at Stoke Newington, now part of Abney Park Cemetery

Related Topics:
1824 - 1838 - Abney Park Cemetery

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Allen married for the third time in 1827 to a wealthy widow named Grizell Birbeck. The marriage was the subject of public comment. A satirical cartoon was published by Cruickshank depicting Allen and his future wife in 'Newington Nunnery', the Quaker girl's school where Allen taught subjects atypical for their day, such as physics, chemistry and astronomy.

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Allen's wife Grizell died in 1835.

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During five months in 1840 Elizabeth Fry, Samuel Gurney and William Allen toured the Europe.

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William Allen died on September 30, 1843.

Related Topics:
September 30 - 1843

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