Charles Tennant (1768-1838), Manufacturing chemist

Sitter in 5 portraits
Tenant was initially apprenticed to a handloom weaver in Kilbarchan in Scotland. The bleaching of cloth was an important aspect of the weaving industry; after studying bleaching methods Tennant took out a patent in 1799 to manufacture bleaching powder by passing chlorine over slaked lime. He subsequently moved to St Rollox, near Glasgow, where with his partners he established a factory to produce the powder commercially. Soda ash and other alkali products were also made, and St Rollox eventually grew into one of Europe's largest chemical works.