Walter Weldon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Weldon
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| Born | 31 October 1832 |
| Died | 20 September 1885 (aged 52) Burstow England
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| Nationality | British |
Walter Weldon (born October 31, 1832 – died September 20, 1885) was an important English chemist and journalist from the 1800s. He was also the leader of the Society of Chemical Industry for a year.
Contents
Life and Work
Walter Weldon was born in Loughborough, England, on October 31, 1832. His parents were Reuben and Esther Weldon.
Early Career as a Journalist
In 1854, Weldon started working as a journalist in London. He wrote for a newspaper called The Dial. This newspaper later joined with another one called The Morning Star. In 1860, he started his own monthly magazine. It was called Weldon's Register of Facts and Occurrences relating to Literature, the Sciences and the Arts. However, this magazine did not last very long.
From Journalism to Chemistry
In the 1860s, Walter Weldon became very interested in industrial chemistry. This is a type of chemistry used in factories and businesses. He is especially remembered for his work with patterns.
His company, Weldon & Company, published many patterns. These patterns helped people create different types of needlework in the Victorian era. Around 1888, the company started publishing books. These books were called Weldon's Practical Needlework. They contained many patterns and projects. The company also published Weldon's Ladies' Journal from 1875 to 1954. This journal provided patterns for making clothes. It became a model for other similar magazines.
Recognitions and Interests
Walter Weldon was recognized for his important work. In 1877, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a group of smart people who study science. In 1882, he was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is another very important scientific group.
Weldon was also interested in parapsychology. This is the study of things that seem to be beyond normal science. He was a spiritualist, meaning he believed in talking to spirits. He was also a member of the Society for Psychical Research.
Walter Weldon passed away on September 20, 1885, in Burstow, Surrey.
Family Life
In 1854, Walter Weldon married Anne Cotton. Their second son was Walter Frank Raphael Weldon. He became a famous English scientist who studied animals and statistics.
Chemistry Discoveries
Walter Weldon was a very successful chemist. He created a special way to make chlorine. This method is known as the Weldon process. Chlorine is a chemical used in many products, like cleaning supplies.
The Weldon Process Explained
Before Weldon's invention, chlorine was made by mixing hydrochloric acid with manganese dioxide. But manganese dioxide was very expensive. Weldon found a clever way to reuse it.
He discovered that after making chlorine, the leftover manganese chloride could be treated. He mixed it with a substance called "milk of lime" (which is calcium hydroxide). Then, he blew air through the mixture. This created a new substance called Weldon mud. This "mud" could then be used to make more chlorine. This made the process much cheaper and more efficient.
The Weldon process started being used around 1869. By 1875, almost every factory in Europe that made chlorine was using his method. He continued to work on making chlorine and other chemicals. He became a leading expert in this field.
