Bessemer, Sir Henry

Sir Henry (1813-1898), an English inventor. He received his education chiefly in the type-foundry of his father, and early showed remarkable inventive ability. Among other inventions was a device for stamping deeds which was adopted by the English government, and to which he owed his knighthood. He discovered a method of making bronze powder which brought him commercial success. He also improved the methods of casting type. His greatest invention is that of the so-called Bessemer process of making steel. It consists essentially in blowing a blast of air through a molten mass of pig iron so as to clear it of carbon. A small quantity of carbon is then added, just enough to convert the mass into steel. This process so cheapened the cost of producing steel that it came into immediate favor for rails and general structural purposes. The great steel industries of the United States have been built up on the Bessemer patents. Bessemer, Alabama, and Bessemer, Michigan, were named for this inventor.