John Hall (engineer) facts for kids
John Hall (born September 5, 1765 – died January 7, 1836) was a clever English engineer. He was a millwright, someone who built and repaired mills. In 1785, he started his own engineering company in Dartford, England. This company later became J & E Hall, which is now famous for making refrigeration machines. During his life, John Hall helped make the papermaking industry more modern. He also helped start one of the first companies in the UK to can food. Plus, he developed powerful steam engines for both land and sea travel.
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Early Days and Starting His Business
John Hall was born in Whitchurch, Hampshire. His father, William Hall, was also a millwright. John moved to Dartford in April 1784. He first worked for a Mr. T. H. Saunders, fixing a mill on the River Darent. Mr. Saunders encouraged John to start his own business. So, in 1785, John Hall opened his workshop in Lowfield Street, Dartford. He repaired and maintained machines for corn, paper, oil, and powder mills. A famous engineer named Bryan Donkin was one of his early apprentices in 1792.
Working with Bryan Donkin
Around 1800, John Hall's company moved to a bigger place in Waterside (now Hythe Street). John Hall worked closely with Bryan Donkin, who was involved in the papermaking industry. Together, they helped the Fourdrinier brothers (Henry and Sealy) and John Gamble. They built special machines to make paper. These machines were installed at the Frogmore Paper Mill in Apsley, Hertfordshire.
Donkin, Hall, and Gamble also worked together on a new idea: canning food in metal containers. In 1812, John Hall bought the patent from Peter Durand. After many tests, they opened a canning factory in Bermondsey. This was the first factory to use tinned iron containers for food. By 1813, they were selling preserved food to ships leaving port. The British Admiralty (the navy) ordered large amounts of tinned meat from them. John Hall left the canning business in 1819. The company later joined with another firm, becoming Crosse & Blackwell.
Building Amazing Machines
As an iron foundry, John Hall's company built many things. They made steam engines and even gun carriages. In the early days of marine engineering, Hall designed engines for ships. He made the engines for the S.S. Batavia. In 1836, he designed the engines for the S.S. Wilberforce. His company also designed and patented the first "trunk engine" in 1835. This engine was used on the paddle steamer "Dartford."
The company's letterhead from that time, when it was called John Hall & Sons, listed some of their products. They made:
- Steam engines based on designs by Woolff and Boulton and Watt.
- Improved engines for steam vessels (ships).
- Rolling mills for iron, copper, lead, and zinc.
- Special steam presses for oil mills.
- Machinery for making paper.
- Equipment for plate-glass factories.
- Machines for oil, gunpowder, bark, corn, sugar, and saw mills.
- Hydraulic and screw presses.
- Diving bells, pumps, and cranes.
John Hall and Richard Trevithick
John Hall's company, J & E Hall, has a strong connection to the famous steam engine inventor Richard Trevithick. In 1832, John Hall invited Trevithick to work on a steam engine project in Dartford. Trevithick stayed at The Bull Inn (now The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel) in Dartford. In early 1833, Trevithick became very ill with pneumonia. He sadly passed away at The Bull on April 22, 1833. His co-workers at Hall's factory collected money for his funeral. They also carried his coffin and even paid a night watchman to guard his grave. This was to prevent grave robbers from disturbing it.
Family Life and Community
On December 17, 1791, John Hall married Sarah Stainton. She was the daughter of a local Dartford landowner. John had two sons, John and Edward. Edward later took over the business, which then became known as J & E Hall.
John Hall (the father) was a main founder of the first Wesleyan (Methodist) church in Dartford. He turned two cottages into a church, which opened on New Year's Day, 1794. This building quickly became too small. A new church was built in 1798, costing £700. It was made even bigger in 1819. Hall and his family also helped with education. They opened a Methodist Sunday School in a cottage that was part of the ironworks.
