James Keir ( 1735 - 1820 )

Birth: Edinburgh, Scotland (29 September 1735) Death: West Bromwich, Staffordshire (11 October 1820) Burial: West Bromwich churchyard, Staffordshire Research Field: Chemistry Education: Edinburgh University (medicine) Career: Entered the Army (1757-1766); started a business as a glass manufacturer (1775); gave it up to take charge of Boulton's Soho factory in his absence; established alkali works,Tipton (1780); close friend of Erasmus Darwin (FRS 1761) and friend of Matthew Boulton (FRS 1785), James Watt (FRS 1785) and of Joseph Priestley (FRS 1766) Memberships: Lunar Society Membership: Fellow Election Date: 8/12/1785.