Item 28 - Letter from Frederick Penny at Anderson’s University, Glasgow to James Young

Frederick Penny was born in London and studied chemistry at the Royal Institution under Michael Faraday. He was appointed to the Chair of Chemistry at Anderson's University in 1839, after a recommendation from Thomas Graham, and held the post until his death in 1869. His students included those attending Anderson's Medical School. In addition to his teaching at the University, Penny built up a lucrative private practice as an analytical chemist, and was involved in testing the quality of the water from Loch Katrine as a potential source for a new, clean water supply for the City of Glasgow. He gave expert evidence in criminal trials, specialising in poisoning cases such as the trial of Dr Pritchard for the murder of his wife and mother in law. His last years were embittered by the University's proposal to found a Chair in Technical Chemistry endowed by James Young, which Penny and his friend and colleague Dr James Adams vehemently opposed.