In the mid-1800s a dreaded illness swept through the tropical regions of the globe. Malaria was a prevalent and often deadly parasite. It caused fever, chills, headaches, even confusion, seizures, and sometimes death. A cure needed to be found, but this quest would lead to an unexpected discovery.

In 1852, in the East End of London, a young boy named William Henry Perkin was fascinated with science. While he would certainly not find the magical cure for Malaria, his curiosity and discovery of a curious purple substance would lead to exciting new inventions. From textiles and the world of fashion to how chemical compounds were studied to create drugs and other advancements in science, to mundane but essential elements like plastics, William Henry Perkin's accidental discovery would change the world.