John Roebuck

John Roebuck (* 1718 in Sheffield, † July 17, 1794 in Bo'ness, Falkirk, Scotland ) was an English inventor. He played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution.

Life and work

Roebuck was born in Sheffield, where his father ran a prosperous business. After attending grammar school in Sheffield, he attended the Philip Doddridge Academy in Northampton. He then studied medicine at Edinburgh, where he came into contact with the chemical by the lectures of William Cullen and Joseph Black. He eventually graduated from the University of Leiden in 1742.

Roebuck practiced for a time in Birmingham, but spent some time with chemistry and their practical applications. Among his most important inventions in this period include the introduction of lead chambers for the production of sulfuric acid in 1746, the so-called lead -chamber process. Already in 1749 he founded together with Samuel Garbett a factory for the production of sulfuric acid in Prestonpans in Scotland, whose production he possessed a monopoly for some years. But his method got around and because he had not patented the invention, he could not stop on time from applying his method other.

He then invested in an iron factory, in the alkali production, as well as a coal mine, which were less successful, however.

After he had heard of James Watt and his inventions, he invested in the steam engine and assisted Watt in improving his invention. However, the shares in Watts invention he had to sell because of persistent failure of his other ventures. However, he remained employed operator of the coal mine and settled near Bo'ness in Scotland.