Charles Frederick Cross

Charles Frederick Cross FRS was a British chemist.
Born in Brentford, Middlesex, his father, , was a schoolmaster turned soap manufacturer. After graduating from King's [College London], he went to Zurich Polytechnic and then, with his future partner, Edward John Bevan, to Owens College, Manchester.
Cross who was interested in cellulose technology and Bevan who had been a chemist at the Scottish papermaking firm of Alexander Cowan & Co. went into partnership in 1885 and set up as analytical and consulting chemists in New Court, Lincoln's Inn in London.
In 1888 they published what was to become a standard work on papermaking. In 1892, together with another partner, Clayton Beadle they took out a patent for Viscose which became the basis for the viscose, rayon and cellophane industries. In 1894 Cross and Bevan took out a patent for the manufacture of cellulose acetate - this was to become the industrial process for its manufacture.
Cross was a recipient of the Perkin Medal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists. He was awarded the The [Franklin Institute Awards|John Scott Medal] in 1895. He died in 1935.