Huntsman was born the fourth child of William and Mary (née Nainby) Huntsman, a Quaker farming couple, in Epworth, Lincolnshire. Some sources suggest that his parents were German immigrants,[3] but it seems that they were both born in Lincolnshire.[4]
Huntsman started business as a clock, lock and tool maker in Doncaster, Yorkshire. His reputation enabled him to also practice surgery in an experimental fashion and he was also consulted as an oculist.[5]
Huntsman experimented in steel manufacture, first at Doncaster. Then in 1740 he moved to Handsworth, near Sheffield. Eventually, after many experiments, Huntsman was able to make satisfactory cast steel, in clay pot crucibles, each holding about 34 pounds (15 kg) of blistered steel. A flux was added, and they were covered and heated by means of coke for about three hours. The molten steel was then poured into moulds and the crucibles reused. The first object to contain Crucible Cast Steel, was a longcase clock, made by Huntsman. It is on display in the Enid Hattersley Gallery at Kelham Island Museum.[6] The local cutlery manufacturers refused to buy Huntsman's cast steel, as it was harder than the German steel they were accustomed to using. For a long time Huntsman exported his whole output to France.[5]
The growing competition of imported French cutlery made from Huntsman's cast-steel alarmed the Sheffield cutlers, who, after trying unsuccessfully to get the export of the steel prohibited by the British government, were compelled to use it in the interests of self-preservation. Huntsman had not patented his process, and his secret was discovered by a Sheffield iron-founder called Walker.[5] Walker, according to legend, entered Huntsman's works in the disguise of a starving beggar asking to sleep by a fire for the night.[7]
In 1770, Huntsman moved his enterprise to Worksop Road in Attercliffe, where he prospered until his death in 1776 and was laid to rest with a commemorative tomb in the Hilltop Cemetery, Attercliffe Common. The business was taken over by his son, William Huntsman (1733–1809).[5]
^Hey, David. "Huntsman, Benjamin". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14247. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ abcdOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Huntsman, Benjamin". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 955.
benjamin, huntsman, english, cricketer, colliery, owner, cricketer, june, 1704, june, 1776, english, inventor, manufacturer, cast, crucible, steel, tribute, figures, huntsman, biography, edit, nbsp, tomb, graveyard, attercliffe, chapelhuntsman, born, fourth, c. For the English cricketer and colliery owner see Benjamin Huntsman cricketer Benjamin Huntsman 4 June 1704 20 June 1776 1 was an English inventor and manufacturer of cast or crucible steel 2 A tribute set of figures to Huntsman Biography edit nbsp Benjamin Huntsman s tomb in the graveyard of Attercliffe ChapelHuntsman was born the fourth child of William and Mary nee Nainby Huntsman a Quaker farming couple in Epworth Lincolnshire Some sources suggest that his parents were German immigrants 3 but it seems that they were both born in Lincolnshire 4 Huntsman started business as a clock lock and tool maker in Doncaster Yorkshire His reputation enabled him to also practice surgery in an experimental fashion and he was also consulted as an oculist 5 Huntsman experimented in steel manufacture first at Doncaster Then in 1740 he moved to Handsworth near Sheffield Eventually after many experiments Huntsman was able to make satisfactory cast steel in clay pot crucibles each holding about 34 pounds 15 kg of blistered steel A flux was added and they were covered and heated by means of coke for about three hours The molten steel was then poured into moulds and the crucibles reused The first object to contain Crucible Cast Steel was a longcase clock made by Huntsman It is on display in the Enid Hattersley Gallery at Kelham Island Museum 6 The local cutlery manufacturers refused to buy Huntsman s cast steel as it was harder than the German steel they were accustomed to using For a long time Huntsman exported his whole output to France 5 The growing competition of imported French cutlery made from Huntsman s cast steel alarmed the Sheffield cutlers who after trying unsuccessfully to get the export of the steel prohibited by the British government were compelled to use it in the interests of self preservation Huntsman had not patented his process and his secret was discovered by a Sheffield iron founder called Walker 5 Walker according to legend entered Huntsman s works in the disguise of a starving beggar asking to sleep by a fire for the night 7 In 1770 Huntsman moved his enterprise to Worksop Road in Attercliffe where he prospered until his death in 1776 and was laid to rest with a commemorative tomb in the Hilltop Cemetery Attercliffe Common The business was taken over by his son William Huntsman 1733 1809 5 At Sheffield s Northern General Hospital one of the original main buildings is named after him and in the city centre is a Wetherspoons pub called The Benjamin Huntsman 8 References edit Hey David Huntsman Benjamin Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 14247 Subscription or UK public library membership required Samuel Smiles Industrial Biography 1879 p 99 Samuel Smiles Industrial Biography 1879 p 103 Rootsweb a b c d nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Huntsman Benjamin Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 13 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 955 Benjamin Huntsman Clock Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust www simt co uk 2021 Retrieved 5 January 2021 Huntsman Benjamin Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Pub Guide Retrieved 22 January 2010 External links editFamous Doncastrians Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benjamin Huntsman amp oldid 1158402478, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
