A dramatic reduction in the price of bronze powder, from £5 12 shillings to just 2 shillings and 6 pence per pound, provided the capital necessary for Henry Bessemer to pursue his subsequent experiments in metallurgy. This early commercial success established a pattern of industrial disruption that defined his career as an inventor and engineer.
Early Innovations
Born in 1813 in Charlton, Bessemer was the son of Anthony Bessemer, an inventor known for his work with steel dies and optical microscopes. Henry followed in his father's footsteps, accumulating at least 128 inventions during his lifetime. Before entering the steel industry, he achieved financial independence by reverse-engineering Nuremberg bronze powder and developing a mechanized production line. He also explored glass manufacturing, patenting a method for creating a continuous ribbon of plate glass in 1848.
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Take the IQ test →The Bessemer Process
Seeking to improve military ordnance, Bessemer began researching steel production in 1850. By 1856, he introduced a technique of blowing oxygen-rich air through molten pig iron to burn off impurities. He presented this method to the British Association in Cheltenham, titling the address 'The Manufacture of Malleable Iron and Steel without Fuel.' While the process faced initial struggles with iron quality, it revolutionized structural engineering by providing a cheaper alternative to the unreliable cast iron used in bridges and railway infrastructure.
Industrial Implementation and Controversy
After ironmasters struggled to implement his early designs, Bessemer established his own steelworks in Sheffield. By undercutting competitors by £10 to £15 per ton, he forced the industry to adopt his methods, eventually accruing over a million pounds in royalties. This success was later complicated by the contributions of Robert Forester Mushet, whose use of spiegeleisen helped stabilize carbon levels in the steel. Following a confrontation with Mushet's daughter, Mary, in 1866, Bessemer provided an annual pension of £300 to Mushet for over two decades.
Legacy and Recognition
Bessemer's influence on the Second Industrial Revolution was profound, cementing his status as a key figure in British engineering. He was knighted in 1879 for his scientific contributions and served as a Fellow of the Royal Society. His membership extended to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and he was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2002. He died in London in 1898 and is buried at West Norwood Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1813, Charlton
- Died: 1898, London
- Primary Field: Metallurgy
- Knighthood: 1879
- Notable Award: Albert Medal (1872)
- Burial Site: West Norwood Cemetery
- Primary Languages: English, French
Questions readers ask
What was the main purpose of the Bessemer process?
It was designed to manufacture steel quickly and cheaply by blowing air through molten pig iron to remove impurities.
Why was the Bessemer process so important for the nineteenth century?
It provided a reliable, affordable alternative to cast iron, which was prone to sudden failures in large-scale infrastructure like bridges and railways.
Achievements
- National Inventors Hall of Fame — 2002
- Knight Bachelor
- Worked as engineer, inventor and metallurgist
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