Benjamin Huntsman

Benjamin Huntsman ( born June 4, 1704 † June 20, 1776 ) was an English inventor, metal casters and manufacturers of cast steel, cast steel, crucible steel, cast steel and cast steel deep.

Life

Huntsman was the third son of a rural Quaker family in Epworth, Lincolnshire. His parents were German, who had immigrated a few years before.

Work

Huntsman started his business as a watchmaker, fitter and toolmaker in Doncaster. His reputation allowed him to practice as a doctor in an experimental way and he was consulted as an ophthalmologist.

Huntsman experimented in the production of steel, first in Doncaster. In 1740 he train to Handsworth to in Sheffield. Finally, after many experiments, Huntsman satisfactory cast steel could be produced in clay pots or jars, each containing about 34 pounds of bubble-containing steel. A flux was added, they were covered and heated for about three hours with coke. The molten steel was then cast into molds and the crucible be reused. The local cutlery manufacturer refused this steel to buy because it was harder than the German steel, they were used to. For a long time Huntsman exported its production to France.

The growing competition of French cutlery from Huntsman's cast steel alerted the Sheffield cutlery manufacturers who, according to experiments can prohibit the export of steel by the British government, were compelled in self-defense to use it. Huntsman did not leave his patented manufacturing process, but his secret was revealed by a Sheffield Foundry named Walker. Walker entered according to the legend Huntsman's workshop in disguise of a starving beggar, who asked for a place to sleep by the fire for the night.

1770 moved his company after Attercliffe, where he prospered another six years. Benjamin Huntsman died in 1776 and his son William Huntsman ( 1733-1809 ) took over his business.

Fame

In Sheffield Hospital Northern General Hospital is one of the original main building is named after him and in the center a Wetherspoons pub The Benjamin Huntsman is called.