In 1829 he invented steam-powered machinery for making ship's biscuits that were stamped into hexagonal shapes, thereby ensuring that there was no waste. This process speeded up the production process and substantially reduced its costs. Other government departments copied the invention, saving the British taxpayer a great deal of money. As a reward Grant was given a £2,000 grant by parliament and received a medal from the French king, Louis Philippe, and a gold medal from the Society of Arts in London.[2]
In 1834 he invented a desalination plant which distilled fresh water at sea and was described by the Times in 1859 as "the greatest benefit ever conferred on the sailor, materially advancing the sanitary and moral condition of the navy". Installed on HMS Wye it produced 10,000 gallons a day during the Crimean War.
According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Grant's other inventions included "a naval fuel (briquettes known as Grant's Patent Fuel), and a steam kitchen, which was given its first trials in the warship HMS Illustrious. He also constructed a new type of lifebuoy, and a feathering paddle wheel.
The outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854 tested Grant a great deal. However, his inventions helped to offset the widely condemned shortcomings of the war-time supply arrangements for the forces.
Grant was knighted for his achievements, and Queen Victoria presented him with a gold and silver vase. He died of cancer in London on 15 October 1859. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography remarked, "Despite the marked improvements they bestowed on the quality of the beneficiaries' lives, Grant's inventions were perhaps too homely to receive the mention they deserved in the histories of technology." He died at his house in Regents Park, London.
He had married Emma. They had two sons: Vice-admiral William Burley Grant and Richard Tassell Grant. His granddaughter Hilda Lucy Grant married Sir Charles Seely, 2nd Baronet in 1891.[2]
The Gentlemans Magazine and Historical Review, 1859
May 07, 2024
thomas, tassell, grant, 1795, october, 1859, notable, inventor, 19th, century, born, portsea, portsmouth, namesake, wife, née, tassell, soberton, hampshire, 1829, invented, steam, powered, machinery, making, ship, biscuits, that, were, stamped, into, hexagonal. Sir Thomas Tassell Grant KCB FRS 1795 15 October 1859 was a notable inventor in the 19th century He was born in Portsea Portsmouth the son of a namesake and his wife Ann nee Tassell of Soberton Hampshire 1 In 1829 he invented steam powered machinery for making ship s biscuits that were stamped into hexagonal shapes thereby ensuring that there was no waste This process speeded up the production process and substantially reduced its costs Other government departments copied the invention saving the British taxpayer a great deal of money As a reward Grant was given a 2 000 grant by parliament and received a medal from the French king Louis Philippe and a gold medal from the Society of Arts in London 2 In 1834 he invented a desalination plant which distilled fresh water at sea and was described by the Times in 1859 as the greatest benefit ever conferred on the sailor materially advancing the sanitary and moral condition of the navy Installed on HMS Wye it produced 10 000 gallons a day during the Crimean War According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Grant s other inventions included a naval fuel briquettes known as Grant s Patent Fuel and a steam kitchen which was given its first trials in the warship HMS Illustrious He also constructed a new type of lifebuoy and a feathering paddle wheel He became a prominent member of the Royal Society having been elected a Fellow in 1840 In 1850 he was promoted to the comptrollership of the Admiralty s victualling and transport service The outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854 tested Grant a great deal However his inventions helped to offset the widely condemned shortcomings of the war time supply arrangements for the forces Grant was knighted for his achievements and Queen Victoria presented him with a gold and silver vase He died of cancer in London on 15 October 1859 The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography remarked Despite the marked improvements they bestowed on the quality of the beneficiaries lives Grant s inventions were perhaps too homely to receive the mention they deserved in the histories of technology He died at his house in Regents Park London He had married Emma They had two sons Vice admiral William Burley Grant and Richard Tassell Grant His granddaughter Hilda Lucy Grant married Sir Charles Seely 2nd Baronet in 1891 2 Other editList of Fellows of the Royal Society G H IReferences edit http www2 royalsociety org DServe dserve exe dsqIni Dserve ini amp dsqApp Archive amp dsqCmd Show tcl amp dsqDb Persons amp dsqSearch 28Surname 27grant 27 29 amp dsqPos 8 dead link a b Person Page The Times 19 Oct 1859 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 Stephen Leslie Lee Sidney eds 1890 Grant Thomas Tassell Dictionary of National Biography Vol 22 London Smith Elder amp Co The Gentlemans Magazine and Historical Review 1859 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Tassell Grant amp oldid 1072118010, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
