William Parker: podcast appearances and interviews

William Parker was a British glassmaker and inventor active during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Based in London, he gained prominence for his expertise in glass cutting and manufacturing. Parker was recognized as the leading chandelier manufacturer of his time, providing aristocratic, noble, and royal households with fine glass chandeliers. His work includes the notable glass chandeliers in the Bath Assembly Rooms, which bear the mark 'Parker, Fleet Street, London.' In addition to decorative glass, Parker specialized in producing glass for scientific instruments. His company, William Parker and Son, supplied British chemist Joseph Priestley with lenses and bell jars for numerous experiments, and continued to do so after Priestley's emigration to America. In 1784, Parker sent the American Philosophical Society a large burning lens device capable of focusing the sun's rays to melt or fuse substances. His contributions to scientific glassmaking and manufacturing earned him recognition, including election to the society in 1785. Parker’s work reflects a combination of artistic craftsmanship and scientific utility, establishing him as a notable figure in his field during this period.