Ironmaster

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the films, see The Ironmaster (1933 film) and The Ironmaster (1948 film). For the 1983 film, see Ironmaster (film).
The Iron Bridge of Abraham Darby's Coalbrookdale works

An ironmaster is the manager, and usually owner, of a forge or blast furnace for the processing of iron. It is a term mainly associated with the period of the Industrial Revolution, especially in Great Britain.

The ironmaster was usually a large-scale

entrepreneur and thus an important member of a community. He would have a large country house or mansion as his residence. The organization of operations surrounding the smelting, refining and casting
of iron was labour-intensive, and so there would be numerous workers reliant on the furnace works.

There were ironmasters (possibly not called such) from the 17th century onwards, but they became more prominent with the great expansion in the British iron industry during the Industrial Revolution.

17th-century ironmasters (examples)

An early ironmaster was

Restoration, Winter developed his interest in the iron industry, and experimented with a new type of coking oven. This was a precursor to the later work of Abraham Darby I who successfully used coke to smelt iron.[2]

18th-century ironmasters (examples)

"Iron mad" John Wilkinson (1728–1808)

Abraham Darby

Three successive generations of the same family all bearing the name

railways possible, although their most notable innovation was The Iron Bridge.[3]

John Wilkinson

One of the best-known ironmasters of the early part of the industrial revolution was

coffins.[4] Wilkinson's patented method for boring iron cylinders was first used to create cannons, but later provided the precision needed to create James Watt's first steam engines.[5]

Samuel Van Leer

"Capt Van Leer" Samuel Van Leer, (1747–1825)

Franklin Stove, and the retreat of George Washington's army following its defeat at the Battle of Brandywine, where they came for musket repairs.[8] The location is listed as a temporary George Washington Headquarter.

"Reading Furnace Property", Reading Furnace Historic District

W[9] Van Leer's children all joined the iron business as well.[10]

19th-century ironmasters (examples)

Lowthian Bell

Lowthian Bell, (1816–1904) by Frank Bramley

Rounton Grange near Northallerton, and the mediaeval Mount Grace Priory near Osmotherley.[11][12][13]

John Vaughan
(1799–1868), founder and ironmaster

Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan

Bolckow Vaughan, in Middlesbrough. Bolckow brought financial acumen, and Vaughan brought ironmaking and engineering expertise. The two men trusted each other implicitly and "never interfered in the slightest degree with each other's work. Mr. Bolckow had the entire management of the financial department, while Mr. Vaughan as worthily controlled the practical work of the establishment." At its peak the firm was the largest steel producer in Britain, possibly in the world.[14][15]

Andrew Handyside

Andrew Handyside (1805–1887) was born in Edinburgh and set up works in Derby where he made ornamental items, bridges and pillar boxes, many of which survive today.

See also

References

  1. OL 25430542M
    .
  2. ISBN 1-904396-41-0
    .
  3. ^  Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1888). "Darby, Abraham". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 14. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  4. ^ Harris, J.R. Wilkinson, John (1728–1808). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2011.
  5. ^ "John Wilkinson | English ironmaster". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Samuel Van Leer welcomed the Revolution with enthusiasm".
  7. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  8. ^ "General Washington retreated to Reading to have the army's muskets repaired,," Reading Furnace Historical Marker, May 12, 1948.[1]
  9. ^ "The Iron and Steel Heritage partners with Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources".
  10. ^ "Pennsylvania Historical Marker Search". www.phmc.state.pa.us. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  11. ^ Howell, Georgina (2008). Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations (paperback ed.). Farrar, Straus and Giroux. pp. 5–6, 64–66.
  12. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/30690. Retrieved 28 November 2012. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  13. ^ "Arts and crafts revival planned at Mount Grace". English Heritage. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  14. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/38091. Retrieved 14 March 2012. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  15. ISSN 1753-7843
    .

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ironmaster&oldid=1178092753"