He was selected to run one of the first purpose built university laboratories in the UK[2] and has been referred to as the "first professional technician".
[1] White's father acted as an assistant to Peter Stahl, a German alchemist, when he gave an experimental chemistry course in Oxford.
Returning to Oxford in 1676 White set up a successful business making chemical medicines and preparations.
White was invited to run a new chemical laboratory that was to be built as part of the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford.
[2] White also continued his business making chemical medicines and preparations running a public dispensary.