The life and work of John Baildon, the man who took British 18th century iron innovations to Prussia between 1793 and 1836

Abstract

John Baildon, an Anglo-Scot little known in his home country, had a hand in introducing almost all the British 18th century iron developments into what became Germany. First employed in an advisory/design role by the Prussian State in Upper Silesia, when he helped introduce coke smelting in blast furnaces, cast iron bridges, cannon manufacture, canal infrastructure and steam engine building, he subsequently went on to partner industrial magnates in iron making and then to develop manufacturing plant in his own right, including very early muffle-furnace zinc smelting and puddling. He became a wealthy man, married well and lived in the upper reaches of Silesian society. His work led to Upper Silesia being at the forefront of the introduction of the industrial revolution to the German lands.