Samuel T. Wellman (1847-1919), American pioneer in open-hearth steel making. chairman of Wellman, Seaver and Head.
1919 Died in Maine
1919 Obituary [1]
SAMUEL T. WELLMAN died suddenly on July 11, 1919, at Stratman, Maine, U.S.A. He was born on February 5, 1847, in Wareham, Massachusetts, and was educated in the schools of Nashua and in. Norwich University, Vermont, where he spent one year in the Engineering course. During the Civil War he served in the first New Hampshire Heavy Artillery.
In 1867 he helped to start up and operate the first crucible steel furnace built in America at the works of Anson, Cook & Co. He afterwards spent some time at steelworks in different parts of the country, starting crucible steel furnaces of the Siemens type. At the Bay State Ironworks in South Boston, Massachusetts, he built the first open-hearth furnace that was a commercial success in the United States.
In 1873 he designed and built the Otis Steelworks, with which he was connected as engineer and superintendent for sixteen years. His machine for charging open-hearth furnaces was his greatest contribution to steel-making and has been adopted by all the leading steelworks.
He was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1878.