Courtauld, Samuel (1793-1881)

British industrialist who developed the production of viscose rayon and other synthetic fibres from 1904. He founded the firm of Courtaulds 1816 in Bocking, Essex, and at first specialized in silk and crepe manufacture. His great-nephew Samuel Courtauld (1876-1947) was chair of the firm from 1921, and in 1931 gave his house and art collection to the University of London as the Courtauld Institute. The institute is based in Somerset House, London.