Chemist and Industrialist. He was famous principally for the discovery of bleaching powder and for founding an industrial dynasty. After being educated at home and at the Ochiltree parish school in Ayrshire, he was apprenticed by his father to become a master handloom weaver. However, he wanted to see the industry grow and was particularly keen to improve the bleaching process that involved treatment with stale urine and leaving the cloth exposed to sunlight for many months in so-called bleachfields. With huge quantities of unbleached cotton piled up in the warehouses, he wanted to shorten the process and speed up the delivery of the cloth. He left the employ of his father and purchased his own bleaching fields at Darnley, near Barrhead, Renfrewshire, where he formed a partnership with four friends and started to work on his goal. Although others had already shortened the process from eighteen months to four by using sulfuric acid and later lime, he worked on the idea that chlorine and lime would produce the best bleaching results. After several years he was successful with his methods being effective, inexpensive, and harmless. He was granted a patent in January 1798, and a year later, one for bleaching powder, which he had developed with his friend, chemist Charles MacIntosh. He and his partners then purchased land on Monkland Canal, just north of Glasgow, to build a factory for the production of bleaching liquor and powder. The area known as St. Rollox, after a French holy man, was cheap and close to a good supply of lime. It quickly became successful, with production increasing from fifty-two tons in the first year (1799), to over 9200 tons in the fifth year. By 1815 it was known as Charles Tennant and Co. and expanded into other chemicals, metallurgy, and explosives. After his death in 1838, the chemical industry business became known as United Alkali Company Ltd., and when a second plant was built at Hebburn. Production of bleaching powder alone rose to 20,000 tons by 1865. The company eventually merged with others to form chemical giant Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI).
Chemist and Industrialist. He was famous principally for the discovery of bleaching powder and for founding an industrial dynasty. After being educated at home and at the Ochiltree parish school in Ayrshire, he was apprenticed by his father to become a master handloom weaver. However, he wanted to see the industry grow and was particularly keen to improve the bleaching process that involved treatment with stale urine and leaving the cloth exposed to sunlight for many months in so-called bleachfields. With huge quantities of unbleached cotton piled up in the warehouses, he wanted to shorten the process and speed up the delivery of the cloth. He left the employ of his father and purchased his own bleaching fields at Darnley, near Barrhead, Renfrewshire, where he formed a partnership with four friends and started to work on his goal. Although others had already shortened the process from eighteen months to four by using sulfuric acid and later lime, he worked on the idea that chlorine and lime would produce the best bleaching results. After several years he was successful with his methods being effective, inexpensive, and harmless. He was granted a patent in January 1798, and a year later, one for bleaching powder, which he had developed with his friend, chemist Charles MacIntosh. He and his partners then purchased land on Monkland Canal, just north of Glasgow, to build a factory for the production of bleaching liquor and powder. The area known as St. Rollox, after a French holy man, was cheap and close to a good supply of lime. It quickly became successful, with production increasing from fifty-two tons in the first year (1799), to over 9200 tons in the fifth year. By 1815 it was known as Charles Tennant and Co. and expanded into other chemicals, metallurgy, and explosives. After his death in 1838, the chemical industry business became known as United Alkali Company Ltd., and when a second plant was built at Hebburn. Production of bleaching powder alone rose to 20,000 tons by 1865. The company eventually merged with others to form chemical giant Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI).
Bio by: Peter Cox
Inscription
CHARLES TENNANT
OF St. ROLLOX
Died 1st October 1838
Aged 71
Erected by a few of his friends
as a tribute of respect.
Family Members
Children
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