(Christian) Augustus Siebe (1788-1872).
c.1788 Born in Prussia[1]
After leaving the army at the end of the Napoleonic wars he moved to England where he worked for Garrards of London, the royal jewellers, and then as an instrument maker. After a brief period as a manager for an engineering firm he set himself up as a watchmaker and silversmith at 145 High Holborn.
1819 July 11th. Augustus Siebe married Susannah Glidden (1796–1856) and they had six children of whom his second son, Henry Herepath Siebe, together with his son-in-law William Gorman, succeeded him in business on his retirement in 1868.
1823 won the Vulcan medal from the Royal Society of Arts for an improved screw threading tool.
1827 Charles Anthony Deane, who had invented a smoke helmet for use in firefighting, commissioned Siebe to make up a few sets, and the design was very soon adapted for use as a diving helmet, developed in conjunction with Deane's younger brother John Deane.
1829 After some success with inventions and in business, Siebe moved to larger premises at 5 Denmark Street, Soho. Among his products was a rotary water pump, which was a great financial success, and the world's first dial weighing machine. Siebe later manufactured under licence the Australian James Harrison's ice-making machine, which worked on the ether principle.
1830 The Deanes and Siebe collaborated in producing a complete diving apparatus kit, which consisted of a beaten copper helmet with windows fixed to a corselet. The ‘closed helmet’ incorporated a loose flange sealing the dress to the helmet around the edge of the corselet, a modification devised and given freely to Siebe by George Edwards, the engineer in charge of Lowestoft harbour.
1840 Siebe supplied a few suits to Colonel Pasley of the Royal Engineers, then engaged in removing the wreck of the Royal George in Portsmouth harbour. This recognition firmly established ‘Siebe's patent diving dress’, despite Siebe's having no patent. The apparatus was greatly improved by the provision of a two- or three-cylinder pump of his own manufacture, instead of a bellows.
1841 Living at St. Giles in the Fields: Augustus Siebe (age c50), Engineer. With his wife Susan Siebe (age c45) and their children Frederic Siebe (age c15), Engineer; Daniel Siebe (age c12) and Mary Siebe (age c5). Also Sarah Glidden (age c45). Two others (servants?).[2]
1851 Living at 5 Denmark Street, St. Giles, Mddx: Augustus Siebe (age 60 born Prussia), Engineer. With his wife Susan Siebe (age 55 born Shirwell, Devon) and their children Frederick Siebe (age 27 born London), Engineer (Visiting); Daniel Siebe (age 22 born London), Engineer (Visiting); Henry Siebe (age 19 born London), Engineer; and Mary Siebe (age 17 born London). Also his sister-in-law Sarah Gliddon (age 57 born Shirwell, Devon) and two visitors. Two servants.[3]
1851 Exhibited at the Great Exhibition: a fire-engine pump, with improved hose and jet; an improved water-valve; a diving machine air-pump; a dial weighing machine, with measuring apparatus; a self-acting water supply or steam-boiler feeder; an improved self-pressure cock for steam-boilers.
1861 Living at 5 Denmark Street, St. Giles, Mddx: Augustus Siebe (age 70 born Prussia), an Engineer employing 18 men and 4 boys. With his sister-in-law Sarah Gliddon (age 66 born Barnstaple), unmarried; and his son-in-law William Gorman (age 25 born Ireland), Engineer; and daughter Mary Gorman (age 25 born St. Giles, Mddx); and his grand-daughter Marien Gorman (age 3 born St. Giles, Mddx). Two servants.[4]
Siebe and Co became Siebe, Gorman and Co at some point.
Siebe died at his home in Denmark Street on 15 April 1872
1872 Obituary [5]
1873 Obituary [6]
Augustus Siebe was born in Saxony in the year 1788, but was taken by his parents at an early ago to Berlin, in which city he was educated.
There he was apprenticed to a fine-caster, and early evinced great taste in modelling and chasing and in mechanical work.
In 1812 he had to join the army, and fought as lieutenant in the artillery at the battle of Leipzig, where he was wounded. Peace being signed, he went to Kiel, and obtained a situation with a watch and clock manufacturer.
In 1814 he came to England, and while perfecting himself in the language, obtained employment in chasing, gun-making, &c. Eventually he became foreman and manager to an engineering firm, where his mechanical abilities brought him into note.
At this period he invented a breech-loading rifle and a dial weighing-machine, and received a silver medal from the Society of Arts for improvements in taps.
He eventually commenced business on his own account. As a proof of his efforts, it may be mentioned that several of the lathes and tools in his workshop were made by himself during his leisure hours at the time he was manager.
He now invented a rotary pump, which brought his name before the engineering world, and his business rapidly increased.
About 1829 he was introduced to Mr. A. Deane, who had invented an apparatus for entering into houses or buildings on fire, and suggested to him the practicability of working under water with a similar apparatus, and eventually constructed an air-pump and diving-dress, known as the open dress. With this apparatus much valuable property was recovered, and diving became a remunerative speculation.
In 1837 he invented the close diving-helmet, which is hermetically fastened to the india-rubber dress, also the segmental neck-ring, by which the head-piece was removed from the collar by one-eighth of a turn. This helmet was further fitted with the inlet and outlet valve, and he also added the water apparatus to keep the cylinders cool, the pressure-gauge, &c.
At this date the Royal Engineers commenced diving operations at the wreck of the 'Royal George;’ and, at the request of the late Major-General Pasley, C.B. (then Colonel Pasley), he carried out a series of experiments with the Sappers and Miners; and the practical experience thus obtained led him to adopt the profession of a submarine engineer. He was appointed contractor to the Admiralty, his invention being used for the Navy and Dock Yards. He was also the manufacturer of the ice-making machinery.
For his various inventions he received prizes on the occasion of the Exhibitions - in London, in 1851; in Paris, 1855; London, 1862; and Dublin, in 1865.
He carried on business up to his failing health induced him to retire in favour of his second son, Henry Herepath, together with his son-in-law William Augustus Gorman and Jane Siebe, widow of Daniel, who succeeded him in business on his retirement in 1868[7].
Mr. Siebe was elected an Associate of the Institution on the 2nd of December, 1856. In manner he was retiring, kind of heart, and upright and honourable in his dealings. He died on the 15th of April, 1872, in his eighty-fourth year.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1871 census
- ↑ 1841 Census
- ↑ 1851 Census
- ↑ 1861 Census
- ↑ The Engineer 1872/04/26
- ↑ 1873 Institution of Civil Engineers: Obituaries
- ↑ Biography of Augustus Siebe, ODNB [1]