1753-1830

English inventor who developed chilled cast iron, which he used to produce improved plowshares. Ransome noticed in his foundry that, when molten cast iron spilled onto the floor, the quickly cooled iron was harder than expected. He patented this process and used the "chilled cast iron" to make farm and other implements that were harder and more durable than had previously been the case. Today, Ransome's company remains an important firm, now renamed Ransomes, Sims, & Jefferies.