George Frederick Ansell
George Frederick Ansell (1826–1880), chemist, assayer, and inventor.
1826 born at Carshalton, Surrey, the son of Robert Ansell, a snuff manufacturer, and his wife, Sarah Amoore.
Apprenticed for four years to a surgeon, but subsequently took up chemistry.
Took a course at the Royal College of Chemistry
Became an assistant to Dr A. W. Hofmann at the Royal School of Mines.
1854 Ansell gave a series of chemistry lectures at the Royal Panopticon of Science and Art, and also carried out experiments into the refining of gold.
1854 Married Sarah Cook (1821–1893). They had at least four sons and a daughter, Gertrude Mary Ansell.
1856 Appointed head of the rolling-room at the Royal Mint.
See here for details of Ansell's 0.0001" gauge for measuring 'fillets' at the Royal Mint. It was made by C. Becker of 30, Strand, London, and was intended to address a particular bad practice at the Mint[1]
Ansell became increasingly critical of waste and inefficiency at the mint; disagreements with the Master of the Mint led to his dismissal after 10 years service.
In 1871 Ansell published a detailed account of the processes and practices adopted at the Mint. See here[2]. Ansell is forthright in his praise and criticism of individuals or institutions who contributed to or detracted from the work at the Royal Mint. The book contains fascinating information on technical aspects of coin production, but the content is dominated by matters relating to waste, aspects of mismanagement, and the background to Ansell's dismissal.
He then practised as an analytical chemist. He also investigated the danger of explosions in coal mines including experiments at the Ince Hall colliery near Wigan.
1865 Patented a fire-damp indicator which was adopted with considerable success in collieries in Britain and the continent.
1880 Died at home in Islington.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of George Frederick Ansell, ODNB