Smithson Tennant

He is best known for his discovery of the elements iridium and osmium, which he found in the residues from the solution of platinum ores in 1803.

He began to study medicine at Edinburgh in 1781, but after a few months moved to Cambridge, where he devoted himself to botany and chemistry.

He was appointed professor of chemistry at Cambridge in 1813, but lived to deliver only one course of lectures, being killed near Boulogne-sur-Mer by the fall of a bridge over which he was riding.

In 2006, American Elements discovered new technology allowing for the casting of seamless iridium rings for use in spacecraft and satellites.

In 2016, the company utilized the same technology to introduce a line of iridium wedding bands marketed under the trademark Smithson Tennant.