William Galloway (mining engineer) facts for kids

Sir William Galloway (born February 12, 1840 – died November 2, 1927) was a Scottish mining engineer and university professor. He spent most of his life as an Inspector of Mines, working hard to make mining safer. He wanted to understand why explosions and accidents happened in mines. He also looked for ways to stop them or make them less harmful. His important work was recognized in 1924. At 83 years old, he was given the title of Knight, becoming Sir William Galloway.

Early Life and Learning

William Galloway was born in Paisley, Scotland. He was the oldest son of William Galloway, who made Paisley shawls and owned coal and iron businesses. His mother was Margaret Lindsay.

William went to a private school in Scotland. Later, he studied in Germany at the University of Giessen and the Technische Universitat Bergakademie Freiberg. He also studied at University College, London. He was very smart and could speak six languages! Later in life, he received a special degree from the University of Wales.

Making Mines Safer

In 1861, when he was 21, William Galloway started working as a manager at a coal mine in Cambusnethan, Scotland. He became a mining inspector and looked into many accidents. He moved to Wales to continue his important work.

One major event happened on December 3, 1875, at Old Pit in New Tredegar. After a small explosion the day before, workers went back into the mine. A huge explosion then killed 20 men and boys instantly. Two more died later from their injuries. Just three days later, another explosion at Llan Colliery killed 12 more.

As the mining inspector, Galloway investigated these terrible events. He noticed something important: the miners furthest from the explosion were badly burned. This helped him prove his idea that in dry mines, coal dust helps explosions spread. His ideas were accepted, and as a result, mines started using 'watering' (spraying water) and spreading stone dust. These methods helped make mines much safer.

By the early 1880s, people started taking his ideas about dangerous coal dust very seriously. He continued to share his findings. In 1884, he gave evidence about the Penycraig disaster. He also gave lectures on mining for engineers. He was a council member for the Institute of Mining Engineers in Cardiff for many years. In 1907, he spoke to the Royal Commission on Mines about how well 'watering' worked.

Not all mine accidents were caused by explosions. Some involved serious flooding. For example, in 1877, the Troehydriw disaster trapped men underground. They survived for ten days because air and supplies were sent through boreholes. Even Queen Victoria was worried and asked for photos to prove they were safe! In 1913, the Townhead disaster also involved flooding, and men waited five days for rescue. William Galloway had to attend both of these difficult incidents as a mining inspector.

Later, around 1923, he followed his family's tradition. He became an owner and director of coal mines, including the East Kent Colliery Company and the Snowdown Colliery.

Smart Inventions and Research

In 1870, Galloway started looking into why explosions happened in dry mines. He became sure that coal dust, along with fire damp (a dangerous gas), was the cause. He investigated many explosions in Scottish mines. His life's goal was to find ways to keep miners safe underground.

He did many tests with safety lamps. He found that the lamp's flame would move through the protective gauze when shots were fired. He also measured how the flame changed size and color depending on the air conditions. He wrote papers about his discoveries and shared them with important groups like the Royal Society.

In 1872, he wrote an article with Robert H. Scott, a weather expert. It showed that explosions were more likely in dry weather in shallow mines. This article was published in a science journal.

Galloway also invented useful tools. He designed an improved walling cradle. This allowed two teams of workers to build walls at different levels at the same time. He also found a way to use water tanks instead of cages to quickly remove large amounts of water from flooded mines. These were called Galloway pneumatic tanks.

In 1875, he patented an idea for using two guide ropes for the kibble (a large bucket used in mining). This allowed two kibbles to be used at once to dig a mine shaft. He also designed better doors to cover the top of the shaft. These doors sped up work and made it safer for workers.

He even designed a special steel bucket to carry coal underground. It had wheels with special lubrication and buffers for a smoother ride. This meant less coal dust was dropped on the mine roads. He also created a small engine that could be taken down in a cage. This engine ran on compressed air and could pull coal trucks. This meant that pit ponies (horses used to pull carts) were no longer needed for hauling coal. He set up a compressed air system at Llanbradach colliery.

Later Years and Recognition

William Galloway couldn't get a promotion to senior inspector. Some people thought this was because he was Scottish working in Wales. So, he left his job as an assistant Inspector of Mines. He then became the first Professor of Mining at the University College of Wales in Cardiff. He left this role in 1902.

After that, he worked as a consultant engineer. He took on projects in Britain and other countries, like Assam and the Cape of Good Hope.

On February 22, 1917, he presented a paper to the Commission on Mines at the Houses of Parliament. This paper shared his important findings about how explosive coal dust could be.

Sir William Galloway passed away on November 2, 1927, at his home in Cardiff. He is buried in Cathay Cemetery, and his grave has a very special memorial.

Awards and Honours

William Galloway received an honorary degree, a D.Sc., from the University College of Wales. He was knighted in 1924, which means he was given the title of Sir.

He also received several medals for his work. These included the Shaw Gold Medal from the Royal Society of Arts, a Medal from the Institution of Mining Engineers, and a special Gold Medal from the South Wales Institute of Engineers in 1925.

His portrait was given by the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coalowners Association, and he also received a gold watch.