Chemical Landmark plaque for John Dalton unveiled
A chemical landmark plaque to commemorate John Dalton was unveiled on John Dalton Street in Manchester last week.
In 2016 we celebrated the 250th anniversary of John Dalton’s birth. Dalton is famous for his atomic theory, which set chemistry along its modern path, as Dr John Hudson, Chair of our Historical Group described in a previous article. During a celebratory event at the University of Manchester last year, David Phillips, president of the Royal Society of Chemistry from 2010-2012, presented two chemical landmark plaques to commemorate Dalton’s life and work.
Our Manchester Local Section and Historical Group worked with Joseph Holt Brewery to install one of the plaques on the Ape and Apple public house on John Dalton Street. The placement of the plaque on a pub in a busy street in Manchester will mean that more people are able to find out about the person for whom the street was named, and appreciate that chemistry is part of their local history.
Richard Kershaw, chief executive of Joseph Holt Ltd, was at the unveiling ceremony. “There’s something rather appropriate about the fact that my great, great grandfather Joseph Holt walked the streets of Manchester at the same time as John Dalton,” he said. “What better way therefore, to celebrate 200 years since the birth of John Dalton, than to have a plaque honouring him on the outside of a Joseph Holt city centre pub.
“We are delighted that the Ape and Apple, which is very appropriately positioned on John Dalton Street, will bear this mark for the rest of time.“
The plaque was unveiled by David Garner, president of the Royal Society of Chemistry from 2008-2010, who said:
"I thoroughly enjoyed my return to Manchester, especially as this was to pay tribute to the great scientist, John Dalton, and unveil an RSC National Chemical Landmark plaque celebrating the 250th anniversary of his birth. This plaque is now available for the public to view on the street named after him."
Diana Leitch, was instrumental in securing a plaque to commemorate Dalton and was also present at the unveiling. Her involvement is especially fitting as she is the current president of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, a position that John Dalton himself held for 28 years.
The unveiling ceremony was the culmination of a number of events held to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Dalton’s birth. You can read more about the events that have taken place, including finding a new home for a 2003 plaque celebrating the bicentenary of atomic theory, and Sir Kostya Novoselov receiving the Dalton Medal last year.
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