George James Snelus facts for kids

George James Snelus (born June 25, 1837 – died 1906) was an English scientist. He was a metallurgist, which means he studied and worked with metals. Snelus is famous for being the first person to figure out how to remove a harmful substance called phosphorus from pig iron.

Pig iron is a type of iron that's made in a furnace. It often contains impurities like phosphorus, which can make the iron weak. Snelus found a way to clean the iron using a special process. Even though he discovered the method, others like Sidney Gilchrist Thomas later found a practical way to use it in factories.

George Snelus: Early Life and Education

George Snelus was born in Camden Town, a part of London, England. He went to school at St John's College, Battersea. Later, he took classes at Owen's College in Manchester.

In 1864, George Snelus earned a special scholarship. This allowed him to study at the Royal School of Mines. His teacher there thought he was very talented.

Starting a Career in Metallurgy

Because of his skills, George Snelus was recommended for a job. He became a works chemist at the Dowlais Iron Works. This was a big iron factory. He worked there for five years, learning a lot about how iron is made.

A Big Discovery: Cleaning Iron

In 1871, a group called the Iron and Steel Institute sent Snelus to America. His mission was to study a new way of making iron called the Danks system.

While he was researching, Snelus made an important discovery. He found that he could remove phosphorus from hot, melted iron. He did this by using lime to line the inside of the furnace. Lime is a basic material that reacts with phosphorus.

The Basic Process Patent

George Snelus patented his discovery. This meant he officially owned the idea. His method was a big step forward in making stronger, better quality iron.

Later, two other researchers, Sidney Gilchrist Thomas and Percy C. Gilchrist, took Snelus's idea. They developed it further to make it work on a large scale in factories. This improved process became known as the basic process.

Awards and Recognition

George Snelus received many honors for his work. In 1883, he was given the Bessemer Gold Medal. This is a very important award in the world of metal. He shared this medal with Sidney Gilchrist Thomas.

Snelus also shared in the financial benefits from the patents for the basic process. This showed how important his original discovery was.

In 1887, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very prestigious group of scientists. He also won gold medals at two big exhibitions: the Inventions Exhibition in 1885 and the Paris Exhibition of 1889. These awards recognized his amazing discoveries.

Later Life

George Snelus passed away in 1906 in Frizington, Cumberland. He was married to Lavinia Whitfield. She was the daughter of David Woodward, a silk manufacturer.