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William Hyde Wollaston ( August 6, 1766 – December 22, 1828) was an English chemist who is famous for discovering two chemical elements and for developing a way to process platinum ore.

He was born in East Dereham, Norfolk and in 1793 obtained a doctorate in medicine from Cambridge University. During his studies there he became interested in chemistry, crystallography, metallurgyMetallurgy is a domain of materials science and of materials engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements and their mixtures, which are called alloys. Extractive metallurgy Extractive metallurgy is the practice of separ and physicsPhysics (from the Greek, physikos , "natural", and physis , "Nature") is the science of Nature in the broadest sense. Physicists study the behavior and properties of matter in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from the sub-microscopic particles from whi. The mineral WollastoniteWollastonite is a calcium meta silicate mineral (CaSiO) that may contain small amounts of aluminium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and sodium. It is usually white. It forms when impure limestone is subjected to high temperature and pressure somet is named after him. In 1800 he left medicine and concentrated on pursing these interests instead of his trained vocation.

Wollaston became wealthy by developing a physico-chemical method for processing platinum ore and in the process of testing the device he discovered the elements palladiumThis article describes the chemical element palladium. For other meanings, see palladium (disambiguation Palladium is a chemical element with symbol Pd and atomic number 46. A rare silver-white transition metal of the platinum group, palladium resembles p in 1803Events January 30 Monroe and Livingston sail for Paris to discuss, and possibly buy, New Orleans. They end completing the Louisiana Purchase. February 24 The Supreme Court of the United States, in Marbury v. Madison establishes the principle of judicial r and rhodiumRhodium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Rh and atomic number 45. A rare silvery-white hard transition metal, rhodium is a member of the platinum group, is found in platinum ores and is used in alloys with platinum and as a in 1804Events January 1 End of French rule in Haiti June 15 The Twelfth Amendment to the U. Constitution ratified by New Hampshire, and arguably becomes effective (subsequently vetoed by the Governor of New Hampshire) July 27 The Twelfth Amendment to the U..

During the last years of his life he performed electrical experiments that would pave the way to the eventual design of the electric motorAn electric motor converts electricity into mechanical motion. The reverse task, that of converting mechanical motion into electricity, is accomplished by a generator. The two devices are identical except for their application and minor construction detai. However, controversy erupted when Michael Faraday, who was undoubtedly the first to construct a working electrical motor, refused to grant Wollaston credit for his earlier work.

Wollaston is also noted for his observations of dark lines in solar spectrum which eventually led to the discovery of the elements in the Sun and for his work on optical devices.

In 1793 he was elected to the Royal Society and served as the Society's Secretary from 1804 to 1816.