John Wheeley Lea

John Wheeley Lea (1791-1874)was born on a farm and had three brothers and four sisters. He had wanted to be chemist since he was a young child ,and his dream came true in 1823 when he partnered with a man named William Perrins. He and Perrins opened a drug-store in Worcester. They went on to create the Lea & Perrins brand of Worcestershire sauce.

Lea was also an alderman and was elected mayor of Worcester in 1834 but served only three-months in office. He died of acute dyspepsia (which is a fatal stomach disorder where the stomach can't function properly) on March 23, 1874 at Stanfield House, Upper Wick, Worcestershire, and was buried in the family tomb at St Peter's, Powick.