William Henry Walenn
William Henry Walenn (1828-1896)
1828 January 7th. Born in London and was trained as an engineer at the works of Messrs. Cottam, and received part of his education at University College, London, where he studied mathematics under Professor De Morgan.
1866 He became a Fellow of the Chemical Society and of the Institute of Chemistry soon after its establishment. He was also a member of the Physical Society.
W. H. Walenn was one of the earliest abridgers of specifications to the Patent Office, beginning under the then Comptroller, Mr. Woodcroft, for whom he compiled the Series of Abridgments relating to "Electricity and Magnetism," "Photography," and other subjects.
In 1866, his book, "Little Experiments for Little Chemists," was published, and in it was given a new process for depositing brass upon zinc.
In 1871, he contributed a paper to the Philosophical Magazine, "On Solutions for Depositing Copper and Brass by means of Electric Force," and about the same time he conducted some experiments for the Government in electro-deposition of copper upon the bottom of an iron ship.
Between 1868 and 1880, several mathematical papers of his on "Unitates," and methods of checking calculations by means of these, were published in the Phil. Mag. Mr. Walenn was known among his friends as a man always ready and willing to aid any inquirer after scientific truth, whether in his favourite study of mathematics, or in the many branches of physics and chemistry with which he was familiar.
1896 September 20th. Died at his residence, 9, Carleton Road, Tufnell Park, after a long and painful illness.