William Henry Penhaligon (1837–1902) was a Cornish barber and perfumer, the founder of the British perfume house

Penhaligon's Penhaligon's is a British perfume house. It was founded in the late 1860s by William Henry Penhaligon, a Cornish barber who moved to London and who became Court Barber and Perfumer to Queen Victoria. History Penhaligon's started life as a barb ...

, and Court Barber and Perfumer to

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

Early life

William Henry Penhaligon was born in 1837 in Philby,

Penzance Penzance ( ; kw, Pennsans) is a town, civil parish and port in the Penwith district of Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is about west-southwest of Plymouth and west-southwest of London. Situated ...

, Cornwall.

Career

In 1861, Penhaligon started a perfumers and barbers in Penzance. Turkish Baths in Jermyn Street

In 1869, Penhaligon moved to London, and worked as a barber at the Turkish baths (hammam) on

Jermyn Street Jermyn Street is a one-way street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster in London, England. It is to the south of, parallel, and adjacent to Piccadilly. Jermyn Street is known as a street for gentlemen's-clothing retailers. Hist ...

. In 1872, Penhaligon launched his first fragrance, ''Hammam Bouquet'', and in 1874 he took over the running of the baths' salon, and expanded it to offer perfumery and related items. In 1880, he went into business with his foreman, and Penhaligon's & Jeavons was founded, with premises a few doors away from the baths, also in Jermyn Street. Penhaligon died in 1902, and the following year they received their first Royal Warrant, from

Queen Alexandra Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 January 1901 to 6 May 1910 as the wife of King ...

Personal life

In 1862, Penhaligon married Elisabeth, and they had four children, Clara, Ida, William and Walter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Penhaligon, William Henry Perfumers British hairdressers 1837 births 1902 deaths People from Penzance British company founders 19th-century British businesspeople