Francis Huntsman (1852-1910)
Editing Francis Huntsman (1852-1910)
Born 1852 and educated at Eton.
Francis Huntsman was the eldest son of Benjamin Huntsman (1820-1893), J.P., D.L., of West Retford Hall.
He was the 5th in direct descent from Benjamin Huntsman, of Attercliffe, the inventor of crucible cast steel.
He had been continuously and actively connected with the works for thirty years, the two partners in the business being himself and his younger brother, Mr. Harry F. Huntsman, of Lound Hall, Retford.
A member of the Research Committee of the Sheffield University Technical Department, he was regarded as one of the leading authorities on crucible steel.
1905 On the visit of the Iron and Steel Institute to Sheffield in he acted as local honorary treasurer.
He was Chairman of the directors of the Tinsley Park Colliery and a director of the Sheffield Banking Co.
1899 He was elected mayor of the borough, and was an alderman up to the time of his death.
1910 Obituary [1]
FRANCIS HUNTSMAN died on January 27, 1910, at his residence, West Retford Hall, Retford. He was the eldest son of the late Mr. Benjamin Huntsman, J.P., D.L., West Retford Hall. There he was born in 1852, and educated at Eton. He was the fifth in direct descent from Benjamin Huntsman of Attercliffe, the inventor of crucible cast steel. The firm was established by Benjamin Huntsman in 1751, some years after he made the important discovery which exercised so great an influence on the industries of Sheffield. He eventually set up new works at Tinsley Park Road, Attercliffe, in 1770. After his death, in 1776, the business was conducted and extended by his son William, who died in 1809.
The business is still carried on in the works at Tinsley Park Road under the style of B. Huntsman.
Mr. Francis Huntsman had been continuously and actively connected with the works' for thirty years, the two partners in the business being himself and his younger brother, Mr. Harry F. Huntsman of Lound Hall, Retford. He took a very keen interest in the steel industry and all matters pertaining to its development, and possessed wide and exceptional knowledge of the steel trade generally. His personal supervision of the business, which was close and continuous, brought him into contact with the staff and work-people in all departments, by whom, as one of the best of employers, he was greatly esteemed and respected. A member of the Research Committee of the Sheffield University Technical Department, he was regarded as one of the leading authorities on crucible steel. On the occasion of' the visit of the Iron and Steel Institute to Sheffield in 1905 he acted as Local Honorary Treasurer. He was Chairman of the Directors of the Tinsley Park Colliery, and a director of the Sheffield Banking Company.
He was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1893.