He was quick to champion those less fortunate, and the reforms he initiated and supported made the lives of his countrymen better. And more!  Inventions & Discoveries>  Music/Dance> A stain is essentially a chemical compound, and the addition of bleach breaks down the molecules into smaller elements so that it separates from the fabric.  St Andrew Societies> "Bleaching powder" usually means a formulation containing calcium hypochlorite.  Arts> [6] The principal product being bleaching powder (calcium hypochlorite), which was sold worldwide.  Flowers of Scotland> Finally, Charles Tennant of Scotland determined that combining chlorine and lime would produce the best bleaching results known at that time.  Edinburgh Photos> Additionally, the nearby canal provided excellent transportation. The third partner, James Knox, managed the sales department. He built a factory at St Rollox in Glasgow and demand for his bleaching powder soared. Born in Alloway in Ayrshire, Charles Tennant's family had farmed there for generations - and had been friends of the local poet Robert Burns.     Scots Abroad>  History Timeline> He received a patent in 1798 for his concoction. There had already been progress (times had been reduced from 18 months to four) but in 1799 Tennant (in partnership with Charles Macintosh who is best known for his technique of macintosh waterproofing clothing) patented a new method to create a dry bleaching powder that could be used indoors.  Literature> He plunged into a study of possible solutions to the problem.  Tartans> It continued for fourteen years when the rights under the patents expired. The relatively new technology of chlorine generation using manganese accounted for the novel exposure involved. He quickly realised this was the answer to his problem at St. Rollox.     Highlands>  Desktop Graphics> https://www.geni.com/people/Sir-Charles-Tennant/6000000000889559858 He received a patent in 1798 for his concoction. Charles Tennant was born at Laigh Corton, Alloway, Ayrshire, the sixth of thirteen surviving children of farmer John "Auld Glen" Tennant (1725–1810), later of Glenconner, Ochiltree, Ayrshire, and his second wife, Margaret McClure (1738–1784).  Poetry from Scotland> As a forward thinking business man, he was in a class by himself.  Clan/Family Histories>  Recipes> Tennants Distribution Ltd is a leading independent distributor of chemicals based in the UK where we have a network of strategically located depots offering a nationwide delivery service. The will of Charles Tennant (1768–1838) 1840 Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills ref: SC36/51/16.  Glasgow Photo Library>  Humour> Bleach is a chemical compound derived from natural sources used to whiten fabrics. Near Paris, in the town of Javel, Berthollet began a small facility for the manufacture of a new product called “Eau de Javelle.” The bleaching powder consisted of potash (soda ash) which had absorbed chlorine gas. He was educated at home and at the Ochiltree parish school, then was apprenticed by his father to a master handloom weaver at Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire.     Tours/Guides>, Search This Site>  Bookstore> The early rail network in Scotland and important mines in Spain were also areas of interest. Further losses came from challenges to the patents in England and Ireland and the outright infringement of the process. Charles Tennant CHARLES Edward Pevensey Tennant was the eldest son of the 3rd Baron Glenconner, a direct descendant of Sir Charles Tennant whose … His works needed large quantities of coal and as he was a good friend George Stephenson, the great railway engineer, Tennant was one of the prime movers in railway expansion. [7] In 1922 it was struck by lightning and had to be dynamited down, but until that time it was in daily use.     Aberdeen> Scottish chemist and industrialist Charles Tennant proposed in 1798 a solution of calcium hypochlorite as an alternative for Javel water, and patented bleaching powder (solid calcium hypochlorite) in 1799. Sources for this episode include: Clow, Archibald, and Nan L. Clow. - Textile Bleaching - Charles Tennant (1768-1838) He acquired bleaching fields in 1788, at Darnley, near Barrhead, Renfrewshire, and turned his mind and energy to developing ways to shorten the time required in bleaching. His dedication to his work, his family and his sense of what was right and fair lasted until the day he died.     Glasgow>  Religion> By the 1830s and 1840s it was the largest chemical plant in the world, with over 1,000 workers. In 1799, another bleaching powder was invented by Scottish chemist Charles Tennant. Several years later in 1799, Charles Tennant invented ‘ ‘bleaching powder’(calcium hypochlorite), CHARLES TENNANT (1768-1838), Scottish industrial chemist, was born at Ochiltree, Ayrshire, on the 3rd of May 1768. Charles was the 9th of 16 children, and became a weaver in the village of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire. It was not until 1799, when Charles Tennant patented a process for producing solid bleaching powder (calcium hypochlorite) that it became a commercial success. He discovered bleaching powder and founded an industrial dynasty. The second partner was Alexander Dunlop (His brother married Charles' eldest daughter), who served as accountant to the group. It … An alternative for Eu de Javel, calcium hypochlorite, was initiated by Charles Tennant, a Scottish chemist in 1798, who also patented bleaching powder a year later. The people produced a chemical by combining a potassium solution with water, and called is “eau de Gavel [water of Gavel]” However, in 1799, a greater discovery to the bleaching industry was provided when a chloride of lime was introduced by Charles Tennant, …  Food/Drink> The sculpture is by Patrick Park (1811–1855) and appears to be base on Francis Chantrey's statue of James Watt in the nearby Hunterian Museum.  Scottish Battles> He saw that the weaving industry was being constrained by the method used to bleach cloth which involved crude chemicals and long exposure to sunlight for many months. It seems Macintosh also played a significant role in this discovery and remained one of Tennant's associates for many years. Mankind had been bleaching … The Tennant family were friends with the poet Robert Burns (1759–1796); in his epistle to "James Tennant of Glenconner" Tennant is mentioned as "wabster (Scots language: weaver) Charlie", in reference to the occupation Tennant had undertaken.[1][2][3]. Charles Tennant and his bleach powder empire.     Info Sources> “An Introduction to Chemical Knowledge in the Early Modern World.” Osiris, vol. ‘From 1820 to 1920 we owned the largest chemical company in the world – United Alkali.’     Regiments> It had the same effect as chlorine and could be more easily handled and shipped, but… Sour milk (lactic acid) and UV sunlight - but it was a very slow process in tenter yards. At the time of Sloan's death in 1848 they had the largest fleet in Glasgow, and were running nineteen vessels. The Batchworth Press.  Butterflies of Scotland>  Family Tree Research> It wasn't until 1913 that a company named "The Electro-Alkaline Co", started to make a sodium hypochlorite bleach by chlorinating a solution of caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide (Mulrooney, 2013).  Slideshow 2007>     Wildlife>  Songs of Scotland> Tennant was quick to learn his trade, but also to see that the growth of the weaving industry was restricted by the primitive methods used to bleach the cloth. A related milestone in medical practice is attributed to Labarraque, a French chemist, when he proposed the deodorizing and disinfecting utilization of hypochlorites for sanitation in hospitals as well as in industries. With perseverance he got there. Chlorine gas was then pumped into the room and absorbed by the lime. Born in Alloway in Ayrshire, Charles Tennant's family had farmed there for generations - and had been friends of the local poet Robert Burns. Tennant died at his home at Abercromby Place[8] in Glasgow on 1 October 1838. With the chemist Charles Macintosh (1766–1843) he helped establish Scotland's first alum works at Hurlet, Renfrewshire. He continued his research and developed a bleaching powder for which he was granted patent #2312 on 30 April 1799.[4].  Romantic Scotland>  Education> The huge chimney known as the St. Rollox Stalk aka Tennant's Stalk towered over everything. Unfortunately Charles was indisposed and unable to attend. Ha, ha, ha! He is known for his technique of macintosh waterproofing[citation needed] and he also assisted in the invention of bleaching powder. In 1830 he started his younger sister Sarah's son, William Sloan, with some small schooners. Huge quantities of unbleached cotton piled up in the warehouses. Following on from the success of the reform Bill of 1832 Charles appears to have been a leading light in the movement to honour Scotland's Political Martyr Thomas Muir of Huntershill, A public dinner was organised to take place on 17 January 1838, Charles was to chair the event at Mosesfield house, the home of James Duncan Esq. He started his own bleaching fields in Ayrshire and looked at the methods used for bleaching.  Tourism>     Theatre> Charles Macintosh, an excellent chemist, was the fourth partner. On the hydrogen peroxide side: scientist Louis Jacques Thénard produced the …  Scots/Gaelic>  Feedback/Contact> The joke: to treat this photo, I used a bleach bypass, one of the filters from Nikon’s Color Efex Pro Photoshop Plugin. In 1774, Karl Wilhelm Scheele discovered chlorine and its bleaching action on vegetable fibers.  Scottish Parliament> Unfortunately when Tennant attempted to protect his rights against infringement, his patent was held invalid on the double ground that the specification was incomplete and that the invention had been anticipated at a bleach works near Nottingham.  Events> In bleach …in 1799 by Scottish chemist Charles Tennant, was thereafter produced in large quantity to bleach cloth and paper. The process involved reacting chlorine and dry slaked lime to form bleaching powder, a mixture of calcium hypochlorite and other derivatives. The system had not been designed to handle this volume. Outwith ICI and its successors the privately owned group, now Tennants Consolidated Ltd., continues with headquarters in London and chemicals, colours and distribution trade with every continent. In spite of these worrisome problems the partnership was a great success. ... Scottish chemist and industrialist Charles Tennant first produced a solution of calcium hypochlorite, then solid calcium hypochlorite (bleaching powder). From 1825 until his death he was one of the prime movers in railway expansion.  Famous Scots Quiz> In 1798 James Knox and Robert Tennant (Charles younger brother), went to Ireland where they struck a deal with the Irish bleachers, for the use of the process.  Humour/Humor>  Webcams in Scotland>. It had the same effect as chlorine and could be more easily handled and shipped, but it was unstable and contained a large proportion of inert material.  Slideshow 2009>  Slideshow 2006> On his death on 1 October 1838, his eldest son John Tennant became managing director of Charles Tennant & Co for the next 40 years.     TV/Radio> [citation needed] Further, in the last half of the eighteenth century, bleachers started to use lime in the bleaching process, but only in secret due to possible injurious effects. The manufacturing of bleach has come a long way since the early years of the first Industrial Revolution. He started his own bleaching fields in Ayrshire and looked at the methods used for bleaching.     Tartans>  Architecture>  Magazines> Ordnance Survey map of Renfrewshire 1863. Bleach works by the process of oxidation, or the alteration of a compound by the introduction of oxygen molecules. Amongst other diverse business interests, he also became a partner in the Bonnington Chemical Works.[5]. An Avant-Garde Family: A History of the Tennants. It was 40 feet (12.2 m) in diameter at ground level. In 1800 Tennant founded a chemical works at St. Rollox, Glasgow. Charles Tennant, in spite of the many demands on his time from outside sources, never lost sight of the main business in his life, the St. Rollox chemical works. Others had already managed to reduce bleaching time from eighteen months to four by replacing sour milk with sulfuric acid. The will of Margaret Wilson (1766–1843) 1845 Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills ref: SC36/51/21. Charles Tennant introduced bleaching powder (chloride of lime) which was cheaper and quicker. He saw that the weaving industry was being constrained by the method used to bleach cloth which involved crude chemicals and long exposure to sunlight for many months.     Alphabetic List> The unusual statue thereon is in the form of a very casually (arguably slumped) seated figure. Where else would you like to go in Scotland? This page was last edited on 21 February 2021, at 19:44. At that time this involved treatment with stale urine and leaving the cloth exposed to sunlight for many months in so called bleachfield.     Music/Dance> Tennant had the original idea that a combination of chlorine and lime would produce the best bleaching results. Charles Tennant was a Scottish chemist and industrialist.  Symbols of Scotland> The chemical business founded by Tennant eventually merged with others in 1926 to form the chemical giant Imperial Chemical Industries. Scottish chemist and industrialist Charles Tennant first produced a solution of calcium hypochlorite, then solid calcium hypochlorite (bleaching powder) Louis Jacques Thénard first produced hydrogen peroxide in 1818 by reacting barium peroxide with nitric acid.  Slideshow 2008> Finally, Charles Tennant of Scotland determined that combining chlorine and lime would produce the best bleaching results known at that time. He built a factory at St Rollox in Glasgow and demand for his bleaching powder soared.     Cinema> Charles continued to expand his horizons during this time. His son, Edward, the 2nd Baronet, … He saw this as a way to control the transportation of chemical products to nearby markets. His imagination and interest were fired by a new way of transporting people and freight. He started in business as a bleacher at Darnley, and in 1798 took out a patent for a bleach liquor formed by passing chlorine into a mixture of lime and water. As a dedicated reformer Charles played his full part in the movements of the day. TENNANT, CHARLES (1768–1838), manufacturing chemist, born on 3 May 1768 at Ochiltree, Ayrshire, was son of John Tennant by his wife Margaret McLure. For his grandson, see, "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp06178/charles-tennant, https://www.soci.org/about-us/history/notable-scientists-and-inventors/charles-tennant, https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Charles_Tennant_and_Co, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_Tennant&oldid=1008140262, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2015, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Poems and Songs of Robert Burns publisher: London, Collins, 1955.  Castles To Stay In> His method proved to be effective, inexpensive and harmless. In bleach Bleaching powder, a solid combination of chlorine and slaked lime, introduced in 1799 by Scottish chemist Charles Tennant, was thereafter produced in large quantity to bleach cloth and paper. At the time, this factory was the largest hypochlorite bleaching powder producer in the world. He worked for many years in the reform movement, but it was not until he reached the age of sixty-four that his effort bore fruit with the passage of the Reform Bill of 1832. This product had the advantage of being cheaper than the one generally used at the time because it substituted lime for potash. Back in 1799, Scottish chemist Charles Tennant patented a lime powder that was manufactured by treating lime with water and spreading it thinly over a concrete floor. His company, during the 1830s and 1840s was the largest chemical plant in the world.  Poetry> The area was known as St. Rollox, after a French holy man. 1952.  History Quiz> He was mainly responsible for getting a railway into Glasgow. Charles Tennant (3 May 1768 – 1 October 1838) was a Scottish chemist and industrialist. Built in 1842, it rose a majestic 435.5 feet (132.7 m) in the air. Later a second plant was built at Hebburn, raising production of bleaching powder alone to 20 000 tons by 1865. Tennant left his well paid weaving position to try to develop improved bleaching methods.  Great Places to Eat>  Celts> He worked on this idea for several years and was finally successful. He is buried in Glasgow Necropolis where his monument stands on the upper plateau. WikiMatrix This sulfonic acid on oxidation with bleaching powder or with lead peroxide, in alkaline solution yields chloramine yellow, which dyes cotton a beautiful yellow.