William Henry Perkin was a British chemist born on March 12, 1838. He is best known for his discovery of the first synthetic dye, 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 dye industry and led to the development of many other synthetic dyes. He founded the first synthetic dye company, which contributed to the growth of the chemical industry in the 19th century. Perkin's work laid the foundation for modern organic chemistry and textile manufacturing.