Charles Washington Merrill
Encyclopedia
Charles Washington Merrill (December 21, 1869 – February 5, 1958) was an American
mining metallurgist
. He was born in Concord, New Hampshire
to Sylvester and Clara L. (née French) Merrill. He attended elementary and high school in Alameda, California
and then attended the College of Mining of the University of California
, where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1891. After his graduation he was first connected with the noted old Standard Consolidated mine in Bodie, California
, and from there went to the Harqua Hala mine in Arizona, thence to the Montana Mining Company in Marysville, California
. In 1899, he became affiliated with the widely known Homestake Mining Company
of South Dakota as a metallurgist, and in this capacity he manifested the brilliant talents which became the foundation of his future career. He became extensively known by his work, and acquired material prosperity, and his creation of new methods, particularly in the process of extracting gold from ore (the Merrill-Crowe process
), brought to him wide fame. It is an established fact that he added to the value of the effective reserve in the ore property of the Homestake mine alone approximately twenty million dollars (1930's dollars).
After he achieved his success in South Dakota, Merrill organized the Merrill Company in San Francisco in 1910, for the purpose of exploiting his patents in the cyanide process. He held over 25 patents in the United States and foreign countries relative to metallurgical processes and mining apparatus. From 1924-25 he served as a regent
of the University of California and also served as president of the Alumni Association.
During World War I he accepted the position of chief of the Division of Collateral Commodities in the Food Administration at the request of Herbert Hoover
. In World War II his various enterprises were called upon by the Armed Services to extend and vary their endeavors and processes as their part in aiding the war effort.
On February 9, 1898 he married Clara Scott Robinson, daughter of Dr. W.N. and Clara (née Hawkins) Robinson in Alameda, California
. They had four children; Beatrice, John, Gregor, and Bruce. The family made its home in Berkeley, California
in a home designed by architect Julia Morgan
until the 1930s, when expansion by the University of California forced them to relocate to Orinda, California
.
Merrill died on February 5, 1956 of a stroke at the age of 86 while on a trip to Honolulu, Hawaii.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mining metallurgist
Extractive metallurgy
Extractive metallurgy is the study of the processes used in the separation and concentration of raw materials. The field is an applied science, covering all aspects of the physical and chemical processes used to produce mineral-containing and metallic materials, sometimes for direct use as a...
. He was born in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
to Sylvester and Clara L. (née French) Merrill. He attended elementary and high school in Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
and then attended the College of Mining of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1891. After his graduation he was first connected with the noted old Standard Consolidated mine in Bodie, California
Bodie, California
Bodie is a ghost town in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California, United States, about 75 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe. It is located east-southeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 8379 feet . As Bodie Historic District, the U.S. Department of the...
, and from there went to the Harqua Hala mine in Arizona, thence to the Montana Mining Company in Marysville, California
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
. In 1899, he became affiliated with the widely known Homestake Mining Company
Homestake Mine (South Dakota)
The Homestake Mine was a deep underground gold mine located in Lead, South Dakota. Until it closed in 2002 it was the largest and deepest gold mine in North America, producing more than 40 million ounces of gold. The Homestake Mine is famous in scientific circles for being the site at which the...
of South Dakota as a metallurgist, and in this capacity he manifested the brilliant talents which became the foundation of his future career. He became extensively known by his work, and acquired material prosperity, and his creation of new methods, particularly in the process of extracting gold from ore (the Merrill-Crowe process
Merrill-Crowe process
The Merrill-Crowe Process is a separation technique for removing gold from a cyanide solution.The solution is separated from the ore by methods such as filtration and counter current decantation and is then clarified in special filters, usually coated with diatomaceous earth to produce a clarified...
), brought to him wide fame. It is an established fact that he added to the value of the effective reserve in the ore property of the Homestake mine alone approximately twenty million dollars (1930's dollars).
After he achieved his success in South Dakota, Merrill organized the Merrill Company in San Francisco in 1910, for the purpose of exploiting his patents in the cyanide process. He held over 25 patents in the United States and foreign countries relative to metallurgical processes and mining apparatus. From 1924-25 he served as a regent
Regents of the University of California
The Regents of the University of California make up the governing board of the University of California. The Board has 26 full members:* The majority are appointed by the Governor of California for 12-year terms....
of the University of California and also served as president of the Alumni Association.
During World War I he accepted the position of chief of the Division of Collateral Commodities in the Food Administration at the request of Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
. In World War II his various enterprises were called upon by the Armed Services to extend and vary their endeavors and processes as their part in aiding the war effort.
On February 9, 1898 he married Clara Scott Robinson, daughter of Dr. W.N. and Clara (née Hawkins) Robinson in Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
. They had four children; Beatrice, John, Gregor, and Bruce. The family made its home in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
in a home designed by architect Julia Morgan
Julia Morgan
Julia Morgan was an American architect. The architect of over 700 buildings in California, she is best known for her work on Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California...
until the 1930s, when expansion by the University of California forced them to relocate to Orinda, California
Orinda, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Orinda had a population of 17,643. The population density was 1,389.5 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Orinda was 14,533 White, 149 African American, 22 Native American, 2,016 Asian, 24 Pacific Islander, 122 from other races, and...
.
Merrill died on February 5, 1956 of a stroke at the age of 86 while on a trip to Honolulu, Hawaii.