Industrial Biography | Page 4

Samuel Smiles
Mr. Anderson Kirkwood of Glasgow the
Author is indebted for the memoir of James Beaumont Neilson,
inventor of the hot blast; and to Mr. Ralph Moore, Inspector of Mines
in Scotland, for various information relative to the progress of the
Scotch iron manufacture.
The memoirs of Dud Dudley and Andrew Yarranton are almost the
only ones of the series in preparing which material assistance has been
derived from books; but these have been largely illustrated by facts
contained in original documents preserved in the State Paper Office, the
careful examination of which has been conducted by Mr. W. Walker
Wilkins.
It will thus be observed that most of the information embodied in this
volume, more especially that relating to the inventors of tools and
machines, has heretofore existed only in the memories of the eminent
mechanical engineers from whom it has been collected. The estimable
Joshua Field has died since the date at which he communicated his
recollections; and in a few more years many of the facts which have
been caught and are here placed on record would, probably, in the
ordinary course of things, have passed into oblivion. As it is, the
Author feels that there are many gaps yet to be filled up; but the field of
Industrial Biography is a wide one,and is open to all who will labour in
it.
London, October, 1863.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
.
IRON AND CIVILIZATION.
The South Sea Islanders and iron Uses of iron for tools The Stone,
Bronze, and Iron ages Recent discoveries in the beds of the Swiss lakes
Iron the last metal to come into general use, and why The first iron
smelters Early history of iron in Britain The Romans Social importance
of the Smith in early times Enchanted swords Early scarcity of iron in
Scotland Andrea de Ferrara Scarcity of iron in England at the time of
the Armada Importance of iron for national defence
CHAPTER II

.
BEGINNINGS OF THE IRON-MANUFACTURER IN BRITAIN.
Iron made in the Forest of Dean in Anglo-Saxon times Monkish
iron-workers Early iron-smelting in Yorkshire Much iron imported
from abroad Iron manufactures of Sussex Manufacture of cannon
Wealthy ironmasters of Sussex Founder of the Gale family Extensive
exports of English ordnance Destruction of timber in iron-smelting The
manufacture placed under restrictions The Sussex furnaces blown out
CHAPTER III
.
IRON SMELTING BY PIT-COAL--DUD DUDLEY.
Greatly reduced production of English iron Proposal to use pit-coal
instead of charcoal of wood in smelting Sturtevant's patent Rovenson's
Dud Dudley; his family his history Uses pit-coal to smelt iron with
success Takes out his patent The quality of the iron proved by tests
Dudley's works swept away by a flood Rebuilds his works, and they are
destroyed by a mob Renewal of his patent Outbreak of the Civil War
Dudley joins the Royalists, and rises to be General of artillery His
perilous adventures and hair-breadth escapes His estate confiscated
Recommences iron-smelting Various attempts to smelt with pit-coal
Dudley's petitions to the King His death
CHAPTER IV
.
ANDREW YARRANTON.
A forgotten patriot The Yarranton family Andrew Yarranton's early life
A soldier under the Parliament Begins iron works Is seized and
imprisoned His plans for improving internal navigation Improvements
in agriculture Manufacture of tin plate His journey into Saxony to learn
it Travels in Holland His views of trade and industry His various
projects His 'England's Improvement by Sea and Land' His proposed
Land Bank His proposed Registry of Real Estate His controversies His
iron-mining Value of his labours
CHAPTER V
.

COALBROOKDALE IRON WORKS--THE DARBYS AND
REYNOLDSES.
Failure in the attempts to smelt iron with pit-coal Dr. Blewstone's
experiment Decay of the ironmanufacture Abraham Darby His
manufacture of cast-iron pots at Bristol Removes to Coalbrookdale His
method of smelting iron Increased use of coke Use of pit-coal by
Richard Ford Richard Reynolds joins the Coalbrookdale firm Invention
of the Craneges in iron-refining Letter of Richard Reynolds on the
subject Invention of cast-iron rails by Reynolds Abraham Darby the
Second constructs the first iron bridge Extension of the Coalbrookdale
Works William Reynolds: his invention of inclined planes for working
canals Retirement of Richard Reynolds from the firm His later years,
character, and death
CHAPTER VI
.
INVENTION OF CAST STEEL - BENJAMIN HUNTSMAN.
Conversion of iron into steel Early Sheffield manufactures Invention of
blistered steel Important uses of cast-steel Le Play's writings on the
subject Early career of Benjamin Huntsman at Doncaster His
experiments in steel-making Removes to the neighbourhood of
Sheffield His laborious investigations, failures, and eventual success
Process of making cast-steel The Sheffield manufacturers refuse to use
it Their opposition foiled How they wrested Huntsman's secret from
him Important results of the invention to the industry of Sheffield
Henry Bessemer and his process Heath's invention Practical skill of the
Sheffield artisans
CHAPTER VII
.
THE
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