John Jeyes


John Jeyes was a chemical manufacturer, most famous for a disinfectant liquid, Jeyes Fluid. His name is also given to an award for chemistry in relation to the environment which is awarded every two years by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
John Jeyes was born in Wootton, Northamptonshire, the second son of Philadelphus Jeyes, a retail pharmacist. On 10 March 1846, he married Sarah Frances Weldon at St Mary's Church, Stamford; they had nine children. The family initially lived at Holly Lodge, Boughton, Northamptonshire, a house built by his older brother, Philadelphus, but, in 1859, Jeyes and his family moved to London.
He is most famous for a disinfectant liquid, Jeyes Fluid, which he filed a patent for in 1877 and is still used. Jeyes Group Ltd. continues to manufacture popular cleaning products, sold in over 60 countries.
Jeyes died on 12 January 1892, at his home in Forest Gate, Essex, and was buried in the East London Cemetery, Plaistow.

John Jeyes Award

The John Jeyes Award was founded in 1975 and is awarded every two years for chemistry in relation to the environment. The award was previously named the John Jeyes lectureship and was first awarded to Ralph Louis Wain in 1976. Nominated by members of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the winner is chosen by the Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division Awards committee and receives £2000, a medal and a certificate. They also complete a UK lecture tour.