1704-1776

English Inventor

Benjamin Huntsman, an English inventor and businessman, is known for his 1740 invention of the crucible process for casting steel. This process resulted in steel with a more uniform composition and greater purity than any type of steel previously produced. Because of these properties, it made superior tools and cutlery. While this process is expensive and cumbersome compared to modern advances in steel making, it was the most significant development in steel production at that time.

Benjamin Huntsman was born in Lincolnshire, England in 1704. His parents emigrated from Germany just a few years prior to his birth. As a youngster, Benjamin showed a flair for mechanical crafts. He became extremely adept at repairing clocks and set up a clockmaking business in Doncaster. He also practiced other general mechanical repairs and was a skilled surgeon. He became widely known for both these attributes.

In his...