About William Allen: William Allen (1770-1843), a Quaker, was born in Spitalfields, East London. He became a successful chemist at Plough Court near Lombard Street and for many years was a public lecturer in chemistry at the Royal Institution. He was active in a wide range of philanthropic projects: campaigning against slavery, visiting Newgate Prison with Elizabeth Fry, traveling in continental Europe to gain increased liberties for oppressed Greeks and persecuted Waldenses, and he was one of the founders of the British & Foreign School Society.

Allen was also interested in agricultural improvements, and improvements to the condition of agricultural laborers with allotments and education.