August Wilhelm von Hofmann, German organic chemist, late 19th century.

Photograph of Hofmann (1818-1892) who became the first director of the Royal College of Chemistry in London in 1845. He was also chemist to the Royal Mint. Hofmann was profesor of chemistry in Berlin, and founded the German Chemical Society in 1868. He obtained the dye aniline, from coal products, and discovered formaldehyde and other organic compounds.