Transformation to Steel: How the Bessemer Process Sparked the Industrial Revolution
During the Industrial Revolution from the 1850's to the 1920's, in which Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone and Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, Henry Bessemer, a British engineer, created the Bessemer process - an efficient way to make large amounts of quality steel. His process revolutionized the way that architects could build structures like buildings and bridges, as well as changing the way the military made many of their weapons. Steel had been invented before - it was a known material back then - but it was very expensive to make in large quantities before Henry Bessemer invented his process. After the Bessemer process became known among industries demanding a stronger manufacturing material than iron, steel became a widely used material in an array of businesses and industries. Andrew Carnegie was the one who took steel to the next level. Using the Bessemer process, he revolutionized the way cities, railroads, bridges, and even ships were built, as cheaper steel allowed builders to experiment with different designs bringing new concepts to the world.
Thesis
In 1857, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, and demand for steel was great. Henry Bessemer received a patent for the Bessemer process, permitting quality steel to be made more efficiently than before. This process was the single most important innovation of that era, ensuring steel would be the main manufacturing material used throughout the Industrial Revolution.
Photos courtesy of banklands.com