Tony Swain (1922-1987) was a chemist known for his definition of a plant polyphenol with Bate-Smith, Haslam and Theodore White, which includes specific structural characteristics common to all phenolics having a tanning property. It is referred to as the White-Bate-Smith-Swain-Haslam (WBSSH) definition.

The discovery in 1943 by Martin and Synge of paper chromatography