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William Allen

(1770-1843), Chemist and philanthropist

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 9 portraits
Allen began working for the Plough Court Pharmacy in the 1790s and was offered a partnership in the business. In 1807, his research on carbon enabled him to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, bringing him into contact with many pre-eminent scientists of the day. In 1841 he co-founded and became the first president of The Pharmaceutical Society. Allen's interests, however, moved from science to philanthropy and he became engaged in various schemes of social and penal improvement. He had been interested from childhood in the anti-slavery campaign; in 1807 he became an active member of the African Institution, agitating for the abolition of black slavery in Sierra Leone and the West Indies.

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Men of Science Living in 1807-8, by Sir John Gilbert, and  Frederick John Skill, and  William Walker, and  Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds) - NPG 1075

Men of Science Living in 1807-8

by Sir John Gilbert, and Frederick John Skill, and William Walker, and Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds)
pencil and wash, 1858-1862
NPG 1075

William Allen, by Charles Baugniet, printed by  Day & Haghe, after  Thomas Francis Dicksee - NPG D7334

William Allen

by Charles Baugniet, printed by Day & Haghe, after Thomas Francis Dicksee
lithograph, (1843)
NPG D7334

William Allen, after Thomas Francis Dicksee - NPG D973

William Allen

after Thomas Francis Dicksee
lithograph, (1843)
NPG D973

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840), by John Alfred Vinter, after  Benjamin Robert Haydon - NPG D23546

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840)

by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon
lithograph, circa 1846-1864 (1841)
NPG D23546

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840), by John Alfred Vinter, after  Benjamin Robert Haydon - NPG D32033

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840)

by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon
lithograph, circa 1846-1864 (1841)
NPG D32033

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840), by John Alfred Vinter, after  Benjamin Robert Haydon - NPG D20516

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840)

by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon
lithograph, circa 1846-1864 (1841)
NPG D20516

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