Richard Scott Perkin
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Scott Perkin (1906 – 1969) was an American
entrepreneur
.
At an early age he developed an interest in astronomy
, and began making telescopes and grinding lenses
and mirror
s. He only spent a year in college studying chemical engineering
before he began working at a brokerage firm on Wall Street
.
During the 1930s he met Charles Elmer when the latter was presenting a lecture. The two had a mutual interest in astronomy and decided to go into business together. In 1937, they founded Perkin-Elmer
as an optical design and consulting company. Richard served as president of the company until 1960, then became chairman of the board.
The crater Perkin
on the Moon
was named after him, while Elmer
was named after his business partner.
Dick Perkin was married to Gladys Talmadge who became CEO after Dick died. A decade later, Gladys commissioned a commemorative history to be written. 100 copies were printed and distributed to friends.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
.
At an early age he developed an interest in astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, and began making telescopes and grinding lenses
Lens (optics)
A lens is an optical device with perfect or approximate axial symmetry which transmits and refracts light, converging or diverging the beam. A simple lens consists of a single optical element...
and mirror
Mirror
A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...
s. He only spent a year in college studying chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
before he began working at a brokerage firm on Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
.
During the 1930s he met Charles Elmer when the latter was presenting a lecture. The two had a mutual interest in astronomy and decided to go into business together. In 1937, they founded Perkin-Elmer
PerkinElmer
PerkinElmer, Inc. is an American multinational technology corporation, focused in the business areas of human and environmental health, including environmental analysis, food and consumer product safety, medical imaging, drug discovery, diagnostics, biotechnology, industrial applications, and life...
as an optical design and consulting company. Richard served as president of the company until 1960, then became chairman of the board.
The crater Perkin
Perkin (crater)
Perkin is a lunar impact crater that is located in the northern hemisphere on the Moon's far side. Just to the southeast is the somewhat smaller cater Guillaume, and to the west-southwest lies Dunér. To the northwest of Perkin is the large walled plain D'Alembert.This is a worn and eroded crater...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
was named after him, while Elmer
Elmer (crater)
Elmer is a small lunar crater that is located to the south of Mare Smythii, near the eastern limb of the Moon. This crater is seen at a highly oblique angle from Earth, and the visibility is affected by libration. Elmer lies southwest of the crater Kreiken, and east-southeast of the larger Dale...
was named after his business partner.
Dick Perkin was married to Gladys Talmadge who became CEO after Dick died. A decade later, Gladys commissioned a commemorative history to be written. 100 copies were printed and distributed to friends.
Additional reading
- Fahy, Thomas P., Richard Scott Perkin and the Perkin-Elmer Corporation, 1987, Perkin-Elmer Print Shop, ISBN 0-9618075-0-4.