Isaac Lowthian Bell
Encyclopedia
Sir Lowthian Bell, 1st Baronet FRS (18 February 1816 – 20 December 1904) was a Victorian
ironmaster
and Liberal Party
politician from Washington
, County Durham
, in the north of England.
He was the son of Thomas Bell and his wife Katherine Lowthian.
In 1854, he built Washington Hall, now called Dame Margaret's Hall. At Washington he established a process for the manufacture of an oxychloride of lead, and built Britain's first plant for aluminium production by the Deville sodium process. With his brothers, he established the major iron works at Port Clarence
on the north bank of the river Tees
. Throughout his life he studied and published learned works on the chemical basis of iron and steel manufacture.
He was twice Lord Mayor
of Newcastle upon Tyne
, and was elected Member of Parliament
for North Durham
from February to June 1874, and for Hartlepool
from 1875 to 1880.
In 1895 he was awarded the Albert Medal
of the Royal Society of Arts
, 'in recognition of the services he has rendered to Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, by his metallurgical researches and the resulting development of the iron and steel industries'. A founder of the Iron and Steel Institute, he was its president from 1873 to 1875, and in 1874 became the first recipient of the gold medal instituted by Sir Henry Bessemer. He was president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
in 1884.
On 20 July 1842 he married Margaret Pattinson, daughter of Hugh Lee Pattinson (inventor of the Pattinson process for the separation of silver from lead) and Phebe Walton. Their children were Mary Katherine Bell, who in 1873 married Edward Stanley, 4th Baron Stanley of Alderley
, Sir Thomas Hugh Bell, 2nd Baronet, who fathered the explorer and diplomat Gertrude Bell
, and five others.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
ironmaster
Ironmaster
An ironmaster is the manager – and usually owner – of a forge or blast furnace for the processing of iron. It is a term mainly associated with the period of the Industrial Revolution, especially in Great Britain....
and Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician from Washington
Washington, Tyne and Wear
Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, in the north of England.
He was the son of Thomas Bell and his wife Katherine Lowthian.
In 1854, he built Washington Hall, now called Dame Margaret's Hall. At Washington he established a process for the manufacture of an oxychloride of lead, and built Britain's first plant for aluminium production by the Deville sodium process. With his brothers, he established the major iron works at Port Clarence
Port Clarence
Port Clarence is a small village now within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is situated on the north bank of the River Tees, and hosts the northern end of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge.-History:...
on the north bank of the river Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
. Throughout his life he studied and published learned works on the chemical basis of iron and steel manufacture.
He was twice Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, and was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for North Durham
North Durham (UK Parliament constituency)
North Durham is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
from February to June 1874, and for Hartlepool
Hartlepool (UK Parliament constituency)
Hartlepool is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.- Boundaries :...
from 1875 to 1880.
In 1895 he was awarded the Albert Medal
Albert Medal (RSA)
The Albert Medal of the Royal Society of Arts was instituted in 1864 as a memorial to Prince Albert, who had been President of the Society for 18 years. It was first awarded in 1864 for "distinguished merit in promoting Arts, Manufactures and Commerce"...
of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
, 'in recognition of the services he has rendered to Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, by his metallurgical researches and the resulting development of the iron and steel industries'. A founder of the Iron and Steel Institute, he was its president from 1873 to 1875, and in 1874 became the first recipient of the gold medal instituted by Sir Henry Bessemer. He was president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
in 1884.
On 20 July 1842 he married Margaret Pattinson, daughter of Hugh Lee Pattinson (inventor of the Pattinson process for the separation of silver from lead) and Phebe Walton. Their children were Mary Katherine Bell, who in 1873 married Edward Stanley, 4th Baron Stanley of Alderley
Edward Stanley, 4th Baron Stanley of Alderley
Edward Lyulph Stanley, 4th Baron Sheffield, 4th Baron Stanley of Alderley and 3rd Baron Eddisbury PC was an English peer.He was educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford....
, Sir Thomas Hugh Bell, 2nd Baronet, who fathered the explorer and diplomat Gertrude Bell
Gertrude Bell
Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her extensive travels in Greater Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. Along...
, and five others.