August Wilhelm von Hofmann

August Wilhelm von Hofmann was a German chemist who made considerable contributions to organic chemistry. His research on aniline helped lay the basis of the aniline-dye industry, and his research on coal tar laid the groundwork for his student Charles Mansfield's practical methods for extracting benzene and toluene and converting them into nitro compounds and amines. Hofmann's discoveries include formaldehyde, hydrazobenzene, the isonitriles, and allyl alcohol. He prepared three ethylamines and tetraethylammonium compounds and established their structural relationship to ammonia.

8 April 1818

Born on the same birth date (8 April 1818): Christian IX of Denmark

Born on the same birth day (8 April): Andrew Irvine (mountaineer) • Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma • Carmen McRae • David Wu • Edward Mulhare • Elton John (footballer) • Herman van Raalte • Hugo Fregonese • Joan Sebastian • John Hicks • Mel Schacher • Michael Jones (rugby union) • Miller Farr • Patrick Schliwa • Phil Schaap • Tracy Grammer

Born in the same month (April 1818): Alexander II of Russia • Christian IX of Denmark • Heinrich Göbel • James Anthony Froude • Thomas Mayne Reid