Sir John Alleyne, 3rd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Gay Newton Alleyne, 3rd Baronet (8 September 1820 – 20 February 1912) was a British businessman and engineer.
, the son of Sir Reynold Abel Alleyne, 2nd Baronet, and his wife Rebecca, daughter of John Alton. He was educated at Harrow School
and in Bonn University. His first work was in the sugar industry in his home in Barbados.
He was Warden of Dulwich College
between 1845 and 1851, president of the Steel and Iron Institute. Alleyne had joined the Butterley Company
in 1852 as its first manager at a time when highly professional and highly paid managers were being brought into the industry. He served as manager and chief engineer of the iron works for 28 years. It was he who designed the roof of St. Pancras Station which has a span of 240 feet (73 m) and forged the girders at Butterley
. He also carried out the project of a two-track railway bridge over the Maas at Dortrecht in Holland. His addresses were given as Belper
in Derbyshire
and Falmouth
.
Alleyne patented a method in 1861 which allowed hot ingots to be moved around a roller after it had passed by just one person. During the production of steel sections the bar has to be repeatedly put through rollers. Allowing this to happen using just one person provided a substantial increase in productivity. However his most notable invention was probably the two high reversing steel mill patented in 1870, which used two steam engines to allow metal ingots to be repeatedly rolled in order to get the correct size and section.With this technique the steel did not have to be moved to re-enter the rolling process but merely had to be moved back into the rolling machine once it had passed through. He also devised a method of determining the percentages of phosporus in steel using a spectroscope.
In his spare time he was an amateur astronomer and metalworker in his workshop at home.
Alleyne married Augusta Isabella, daughter of Sir Henry FitzHerbert, 3rd Baronet
, in 1851. Alleyne died 20 February 1912, aged 91.
Biography
Alleyne was born in Alleynedale Hall in BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, the son of Sir Reynold Abel Alleyne, 2nd Baronet, and his wife Rebecca, daughter of John Alton. He was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and in Bonn University. His first work was in the sugar industry in his home in Barbados.
He was Warden of Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
between 1845 and 1851, president of the Steel and Iron Institute. Alleyne had joined the Butterley Company
Butterley Company
Butterley Engineering was an engineering company based in Ripley, Derbyshire. The company was formed from the Butterley Company which began as Benjamin Outram and Company in 1790 and existed until 2009.-Origins:...
in 1852 as its first manager at a time when highly professional and highly paid managers were being brought into the industry. He served as manager and chief engineer of the iron works for 28 years. It was he who designed the roof of St. Pancras Station which has a span of 240 feet (73 m) and forged the girders at Butterley
Butterley
Butterley is a village in the English county of Derbyshire near to Ripley. It is the site of the Midland Railway - Butterley, as well as the old Butterley Brickworks.- Notable residents :...
. He also carried out the project of a two-track railway bridge over the Maas at Dortrecht in Holland. His addresses were given as Belper
Belper
Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
.
Alleyne patented a method in 1861 which allowed hot ingots to be moved around a roller after it had passed by just one person. During the production of steel sections the bar has to be repeatedly put through rollers. Allowing this to happen using just one person provided a substantial increase in productivity. However his most notable invention was probably the two high reversing steel mill patented in 1870, which used two steam engines to allow metal ingots to be repeatedly rolled in order to get the correct size and section.With this technique the steel did not have to be moved to re-enter the rolling process but merely had to be moved back into the rolling machine once it had passed through. He also devised a method of determining the percentages of phosporus in steel using a spectroscope.
In his spare time he was an amateur astronomer and metalworker in his workshop at home.
Alleyne married Augusta Isabella, daughter of Sir Henry FitzHerbert, 3rd Baronet
Fitzherbert Baronets
The FitzHerbert Baronetcy, of Tissington in the County of Derby, is a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 22 January 1784 for William FitzHerbert, of Tissington Hall, Derbyshire. The FitzHerberts descend from Norman knights and from the 12th century FitzHerberts of Norbury...
, in 1851. Alleyne died 20 February 1912, aged 91.