Johann Peter Griess (6 September 1829 – 30 August 1888) was an industrial chemist[1] and an early pioneer of organic chemistry.

After most of the family possession had been spent, Griess had to start working at the chemical factory of Oehler in Offenbach am Main in 1856.

The devastating fire of 1857 ended the production of chemicals at the factory and a changed Peter Griess rejoined Hermann Kolbe at the University of Marburg.

[3] The discovery of a new class of chemicals convinced August Wilhelm von Hofmann to invite Griess to join him at his new position at the Royal College of Chemistry.

It took him quite long to become accustomed to his new home in England, but the fact that he married in 1869 and founded a family made it clear that he did not intend to return to Germany, even though he was offered a position at the BASF.