Henry Bessemer- NYSSPE’s Engineer of the Week

NYSSPE’s Engineer of the Week features Henry Bessemer, born on January 19, 1813 in Hertfordshire, England. He was an inventor and best known for his steel making process which became the most important technique for making steel in the nineteenth century. This way of steel making is known as the Bessemer process and  was patented in 1855. It greatly reduces the cost of steel by making it quicker to manufacture and works by blowing oxygen through pig-iron to remove the impurities.

In addition to steel making, Bessemer made over 100 inventions. These were in the fields of iron, steel, and glass. One of his inventions includes a method for making a continuous ribbon of plate glass in 1848. Bessemer also invented movable dies for embossed postage stamps and a screw to extract sugar from sugar cane.

Henry Bessemer left a legacy behind when he passed away in March of 1898. He made many successful contributions to science and was made a fellow of the Royal Society. Bessemer was also elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bessemer

Photo Reference: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/portrait-of-the-english-engineer-henry-bessemer-who-news-photo/141551119

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