Namesake
Priestley College is named for Joseph Priestley (March 13, 1733 - February 8, 1804), a clergyman, chemist and educator who was a pioneer in teaching modern history and the sciences. He discovered oxygen in 1774, although was not responsible for naming the element. Priestley was a Protestant dissenter who help establish the reputation of Warrington Academy in 1751, for a generation a leading educational centre and one of the first in Britain that was non-sectarian. A statue of Priestley now stands inside the main entrance of the college. Warrington, at the time of Priestley, was noted for its scientific academic work. In modern times, much scientific work still takes place in the (former) north Cheshire area, specifically at Daresbury in the south of Warrington.
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