Isaac Charles Johnson facts for kids

Isaac Charles Johnson (born January 28, 1811 – died November 29, 1911) was a British inventor. He was a very important person in the early days of the Portland cement industry. Cement is a key ingredient in concrete, which is used to build many things.

Johnson was born in London. His father worked at a cement factory. Isaac started working there at age 16, learning about cement while also studying chemistry. In 1833, he became a manager at a cement factory in Swanscombe, near the Thames Estuary. This factory made different kinds of cement.

Developing Portland Cement

At that time, another inventor named Joseph Aspdin had created a type of cement called Portland cement. It was very good but also very expensive. Aspdin kept his recipe a secret. Isaac Johnson wanted to understand how it was made. He worked for almost two years to figure out its composition.

Johnson finally succeeded in making his own version of Portland cement. His product was even better and cheaper than Aspdin's. Because of this, Johnson is often called the inventor of "true" Portland cement.

Building His Own Business

Johnson left the factory where he was a manager. He started his own company and built several cement factories. These were located in places like Frindsbury, Cliffe, and Greenhithe in Kent. He also took over William Aspdin's factory in Gateshead.

Johnson introduced many new ideas to the cement industry. He found ways to make the raw materials for cement easier to mix. He also designed better kilns (large ovens for heating materials) and tall industrial chimneys. His company grew and was very successful for about 60 years. In 1901, his Greenhithe factory started using modern rotary kilns.

In 1911, Johnson's company became part of the Blue Circle Group. His Greenhithe factory continued to operate until 1971. In 1910, on his 100th birthday, people from the cement industry gave him a special silver tea set. This showed how much they respected his work.

Public Service and Community Life

Isaac Johnson was not just a successful businessman. He also cared about his community. He served as a judge (magistrate) in Gateshead and Kent. He was also a council member for the Borough of Gravesend. Many business leaders during that time also helped their communities.

Johnson was involved in several local groups. He was the president of the Gravesend Liberal Association. He also led the Gravesend Total Abstinence Society, which promoted avoiding alcohol.

He was a founding member and a long-time leader at the Zoar Strict and Particular Baptist Church in Gravesend. He sometimes gave sermons there.

After his death, Johnson's autobiography was published in 1912. It was called Autobiography of Isaac Charles Johnson Esq, JP.