John Lane (metallurgist) facts for kids
John Lane was a smart person who lived a long time ago, in the 1700s. He was a doctor, but he was also very interested in metals. People say he even tried to make a metal called zinc. This was a big challenge for scientists back then!
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John Lane: A Doctor and Metal Expert
John Lane was born around October 1678. He lived until 1741. He was known as a doctor. But he also worked with metals, which is called metallurgy. He might have tried to create zinc metal. This was a very difficult task for his time.
Early Life and Education
John Lane went to Exeter College, Oxford to study. Later, he studied medicine in Leiden in 1702. In 1713, he married Elizabeth Pollard. She was from Marsh Baldon, Oxfordshire. Elizabeth lived longer than John. She passed away in 1771 when she was 83 years old.
Business Adventures in Copper
In 1694, John Lane teamed up with John Pollard. Pollard might have been Elizabeth's stepfather. They became partners with Thomas Collins. They worked together at copper factories in Neath Abbey. But their partnership ended in 1716.
In 1717, Lane and Pollard started a new copper business. It was called the Llangyfelach copper works. This factory was located at Landore, near Swansea. However, their business ran into trouble. They went bankrupt in 1726. This happened because of a big financial problem called the South Sea Bubble. Many people lost money during this time.
After his bankruptcy, Lane's copper works "near Swansea" were put up for sale. This happened in May 1727. Later, another company, Lockwood Morris & Co, used the Llangefelach Works.
Other Business Interests
At some point, John Lane also had a special mill. This mill was used for stamping metals. It was located at Kidwelly. This same spot was later used for the Kidwelly Tinplate Works. Lane also had a partner who owned copper mines in Cornwall.
Life in Bristol
It seems John Lane lived in Bristol. He was working as a doctor there by 1702. He was also involved in business in Bristol. For example, in 1708, he invested in a "privateering" trip. This meant he helped fund ships that were allowed to attack enemy ships during wartime. In 1714, he invested in a plan to make the River Avon (Bristol) easier for boats to travel on, leading to Bath.
Even after his bankruptcy, John Lane was still respected. He was able to rent a house in College Green, Bristol in 1728. He continued to work as a doctor and had a good reputation.
