William H. Perkin was a British chemist born on March 12, 1838. He is best known for his discovery of the first synthetic dye, known as mauveine, in 1856. This breakthrough occurred when he was just 18 years old and was experimenting with aniline while trying to synthesize quinine. Perkin's invention revolutionized the textile industry by providing a vibrant color that was previously difficult to obtain. His work laid the foundation for the development of the synthetic dye industry, leading to the creation of many other dyes and significantly impacting fashion and manufacturing. He passed away on July 14, 1907.