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==History==
===FoundersFounder's Innovationinnovation and Impactimpact===
[[File:Paul Sandby - A View of Vinters at Boxley, Kent, with Mr. Whatman's Turkey Paper Mills - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|''Mr. Whatman's Turkey Paper Mills'' by [[Paul Sandby]] (1794)]]
Founded in 1740 in [[Maidstone]], [[Kent]], England, Whatman paper was created by papermaker [[James Whatman (papermaker)|James Whatman]] the Elder (1702–1759). He made revolutionary advances to the craft in England and is credited as the inventor of [[wove paper]] (or Vélin), an innovation used for high quality art and printing. The techniques continued to be developed by his son, James Whatman the Younger (1741–1798).<ref name="Roberts">{{cite book|last1=Roberts|first1=Matt T.|last2=Etherington|first2=Don|title=Bookbinding and the conservation of books: A dictionary of descriptive terminology|url=https://archive.org/details/bookbindingconse0000robe|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|isbn=978-0-8444-0366-3|chapter=Whatman, James (1741–1798)|date=2011-11-19|accessdate=2016-09-02|url-access=registration}}</ref> At a time when the craft was based in smaller [[paper mill]]s, his innovations led to the large scale and widespread industrialisation of paper manufacturing. ▼
▲Founded in 1740 in [[Maidstone]], [[Kent]], England, Whatman paper was created byThe papermaker [[James Whatman (papermaker)|James Whatman]] the Elder (1702–1759) founded the Whatman papermaking enterprise in 1740 in [[Maidstone]], [[Kent]], England. He made revolutionary advances to the craft in England and is credited {{by whom?}} as the inventor of [[wove paper]] (or Vélin), an innovation used for high -quality art and printing. The techniques continued to be developed by hisHis son, James Whatman the Younger (1741–1798) , further developed the company's techniques.<ref name="Roberts">{{cite book|last1= Roberts|first1= Matt T.|last2= Etherington|first2= Don|title= Bookbinding and the conservation of books: A dictionary of descriptive terminology|url= https://archive.org/details/bookbindingconse0000robe|publisher= U.S. Government Printing Office|isbn= 978-0-8444-0366-3|chapter= Whatman, James (1741–1798)|date= 2011-11-19|accessdate= 2016-09-02|url-access= registration}}</ref> At a time when the craft was based in smaller [[paper mill]]s, hisWhatman innovations led to the large -scale and widespread industrialisation of paper manufacturing.
Whatman had been approached by [[John Baskerville]], who needed paper that would take a light impression of the printing plate; this was used for the edition of Virgil's poetry, embellished with Baskerville's typography and designs.<ref name="Roberts"/> The earliest examples of wove paper, bearing his [[watermark]], appeared after 1740.<ref name="NGA">{{cite web|url=http://nga.gov.au/Conservation/Watermarks/listing.cfm|title=Watermark and countermark library|year=2010|work=Conservation|publisher=[[National Gallery of Australia]]|accessdate=2010-11-29}}</ref> ▼
▲Whatman had been approached by [[John Baskerville]] (1707-1775), who needed paper that would take a light impression of the printing plate , approached Whatman; thisthe resultant paper was used for the edition of [[Virgil ]]'s poetry, embellished with Baskerville's typography and designs.<ref name="Roberts"/> The earliest examples of wove paper, bearing his [[watermark]], appeared after 1740.<ref name="NGA">{{cite web|url= http://nga.gov.au/Conservation/Watermarks/listing.cfm|title= Watermark and countermark library|year= 2010|work= Conservation|publisher= [[National Gallery of Australia]]|accessdate= 2010-11-29}}</ref>
The business is credited with the invention of the wove wire mesh used to mould and align the pulp fibres. This is the principal method used in the mass production of most modern paper. The Whatmans held a part interest in the establishment at Turkey Mill, near Maidstone, after 1740;<ref name=EarlyYears/> this was acquired through the elder Whatman's marriage to Ann Harris. ▼
▲The Whatman [[business ]] is credited {{by whom?}} with the invention of the wove wire mesh used to mould and align the pulp fibres. This is the principal method used in the mass production of most modern paper. The Whatmans held a part interest in the establishment at Turkey Mill, near Maidstone, after 1740;<ref name=EarlyYears/> this was acquired through the elder Whatman's marriage to Ann Harris.
The "handmade" paper bearing the Whatman's mark was still produced for special editions and art books<ref name="Roberts" /> until 2002.<ref name=Chalmers>{{cite journal|first=Mark|last=Chalmers|title=Whatman - Springfield Paper Mill, Maidstone|journal=Archive|issue=91|date=September 2016|pages=52–65|publisher=Lightmoor Press|___location=Witney}}</ref> ▼
▲The " handmadeHandmade" paper bearing the Whatman's mark wascontinued stillin producedproduction for special editions and art books<ref name="Roberts" /> until 2002.<ref name=Chalmers>{{cite journal|first= Mark|last= Chalmers|title= Whatman - Springfield Paper Mill, Maidstone|journal= Archive|issue= 91|date= September 2016|pages= 52–65|publisher= Lightmoor Press|___location= Witney}}</ref>
===Acquisition===
Whatman [[Public limited company|plc]] was acquired onOn 4 February 2008 by [[GE Healthcare]], a unit of [[General Electric]], acquired Whatman [[Public limited company|plc]] at 270p per share in cash for each Whatman share, valuing Whatman at approximately £363 million (approximately $713 million.) Last production at Maidstone (Springfield Mill) wasoccurred on 17 June 2014.<ref name=Chalmers/>
==Key products and technologies==
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