Henry Bessemer (1813-1893) English engineer and inventor was born at Charlton, near Hitchen, Hertfordshire. Took out many patents but best remembered for his invention of the Bessemer process, patented 1855, for more cheaply producing steel from pig iron in a Bessmer converter. Established a steelworks at Sheffield, 1859. Knighted in 1859 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society the same year. From 'Men of Mark' by Thompson Cooper. (London, 1881).