Daniel Treadwell
Encyclopedia
Daniel Treadwell was an American
inventor, born at Ipswich, Massachusetts
. Amongst his most important inventions are a hemp-spinning machine
for the production of cordage, and a method of constructing cannon
from wrought iron
and steel
.
His first invention, made at an early age, was a machine for making wooden screws. In 1818 he devised a new form of printing press
, and in 1819 went to England
, where he conceived the idea of a power press. This was completed in a year after his return, and was the first press by which a sheet was printed on this continent by other than hand power. It was widely used, and in New York City
large editions of the Bible
were published by its means. In 1825 he was employed by the city of Boston
to make a survey for the introduction of water, and in 1826 he devised a system of turnouts for railway transportation on a single track.
He completed the first successful machine for spinning hemp for cordage in 1829. Works capable of spinning 1,000 tons a year were erected in Boston in 1831. Machines that he furnished in 1836 to the Charlestown Navy Yard made all the cordage for some time for the U. S. Navy. These machines were used in Canada
, Ireland
, and Russia
. One of them, called a circular hackle or lapper, was generally adopted wherever hemp was spun for coarse cloth.
In 1835 he perfected a method for making cannon
from wrought iron and steel, resembling the process that was subsequently introduced by Sir William Armstrong
. He patented it and received government contracts, but the great cost of his cannon prevented a demand for them.
In 1822, in conjunction with Dr. John Ware, he founded the Boston Journal of Philosophy and the Arts. From 1834 to 1845, he occupied the chair of Rumford professor at Harvard
. Also, theology was one of his interests.
He was one of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
's circle of friends, and is the theologian of the Tales of a Wayside Inn
.
He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor, born at Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
. Amongst his most important inventions are a hemp-spinning machine
Machine
A machine manages power to accomplish a task, examples include, a mechanical system, a computing system, an electronic system, and a molecular machine. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work...
for the production of cordage, and a method of constructing cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
from wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
.
His first invention, made at an early age, was a machine for making wooden screws. In 1818 he devised a new form of printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
, and in 1819 went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he conceived the idea of a power press. This was completed in a year after his return, and was the first press by which a sheet was printed on this continent by other than hand power. It was widely used, and in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
large editions of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
were published by its means. In 1825 he was employed by the city of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to make a survey for the introduction of water, and in 1826 he devised a system of turnouts for railway transportation on a single track.
He completed the first successful machine for spinning hemp for cordage in 1829. Works capable of spinning 1,000 tons a year were erected in Boston in 1831. Machines that he furnished in 1836 to the Charlestown Navy Yard made all the cordage for some time for the U. S. Navy. These machines were used in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. One of them, called a circular hackle or lapper, was generally adopted wherever hemp was spun for coarse cloth.
In 1835 he perfected a method for making cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
from wrought iron and steel, resembling the process that was subsequently introduced by Sir William Armstrong
William Armstrong
William Armstrong may refer to:* Kinmont Willie Armstrong , Scottish border reiver, known as "Kinmont Willie"* William Armstrong , Scottish border freebooter, known as "Christie's Will"...
. He patented it and received government contracts, but the great cost of his cannon prevented a demand for them.
In 1822, in conjunction with Dr. John Ware, he founded the Boston Journal of Philosophy and the Arts. From 1834 to 1845, he occupied the chair of Rumford professor at Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Also, theology was one of his interests.
He was one of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
's circle of friends, and is the theologian of the Tales of a Wayside Inn
Tales of a Wayside Inn
Tales of a Wayside Inn is a collection of poems by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.-Overview:The poems in the collection are told by a group of adults in the tavern of the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts, 20 miles from Cambridge, and a favorite resort for parties from Harvard College...
.
He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.
Works
- The Relations of Science to the Useful Arts (Boston, 1855)
- On the Practicability of constructing a Cannon of Great Calibre (Cambridge, 1856)
- On the Construction of Hooped Cannon (a sequel to the foregoing; 1864)