WOLLASTON, WILLIAM HYDE

born Aug. 6, 1766, East Dereham, Norfolk, Eng. died Dec. 22, 1828, London British scientist whose original powder-metallurgy techniques served as a model for the modern industrial processing of platinum, tungsten, molybdenum, and other transition metals. His studies of platinum also resulted in his discovery of two related elements, palladium (1803) and rhodium (1804). Though he was formally educated as a physician, his great curiosity led him into the study of chemistry, physics, astronomy, and botany. His work with platinum, completed in 1804, came at a time when large quantities of platina (crude platinum) remained unused for lack of an efficient method of obtaining the pure metal in the malleable form valuable in chemical research and manufacture. The success of his method, which he kept secret until shortly before his death, yielded him financial independence for the rest of his life. The amount and variety of his research made Wollaston one of the most influential scientists of his time. Of his 56 papers in chemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, physics, astronomy, botany, physiology, and pathology, many represented notable scientific advances.