What is Henry Bessemer most known for?

Henry Bessemer is most known for inventing the Bessemer process, which revolutionized steel production by enabling the mass conversion of iron into steel efficiently and economically.

Did Henry Bessemer have formal education?

Henry Bessemer was largely self-taquired and did not attend a university. He apprenticed in engineering and developed his skills independently.

What other inventions is Henry Bessemer known for?

Besides the Bessemer process, he invented machinery for producing bronze powder and glass, and held patents in sugar manufacturing and continuous casting.

Was Henry Bessemer recognized by scientific institutions?

Yes, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also received the Albert Medal from the Royal Society of Arts.

What honors did Henry Bessemer receive?

He was knighted as a Knight Bachelor and received the Albert Medal, among other honors. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

What was the impact of the Bessemer process?

The Bessemer process dramatically reduced the cost of steel production, enabling the rapid expansion of railways, construction, and industrial infrastructure in the late 19th century.

Henry Bessemer

British engineer (1813-1898)

Person Human Q310201

Henry Bessemer — Unknown (Mondadori Publishers) · Public Domain · Wikimedia

Facts

19 properties

Instance of: human
Sex or gender: male^[19]
Date of birth: January 19, 1813
Date of death: March 15, 1898
Place of birth: Charlton
Place of death: London
Country of citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland^[10]
Occupation: engineer, inventor, metallurgist, businessperson
Field of work: metallurgy^[11]
Award received: Fellow of the Royal Society, National Inventors Hall of Fame, Albert Medal, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Knight Bachelor^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]
Languages spoken, written or signed: French, English^[31]^[32]
Described by source: Nordisk familjebok, Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978), Dictionary of National Biography, first supplement, Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, The Nuttall Encyclopædia, Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947), Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition, New International Encyclopedia^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27]^[28]^[29]^[30]
Family name: Bessemer (surname)^[20]
Given name: Henry^[21]
Member of: Royal Society of London, American Academy of Arts and Sciences^[17]^[18]
Name in native language: Henry Bessemer‎^[33]
On focus list of Wikimedia project: WikiProject PCC Wikidata Pilot/Smithsonian Libraries Dibner Library portraits
Place of burial: West Norwood Memorial Park Tomb Of Sir Henry Bessemer^[9]
Writing language: English

🏷️ Also known as

en Henry Bessemer en Sir Henry Bessemer ar هنري بسيمر ar هنري بسمر da Sir Henry Bessemer de Sir Henry Bessemer el Χένρι Μπέσσεμερ es Sir Henry Bessemer fa هنری بسمر fi Sir Henry Bessemer fr Henri Bessemer he הנרי באסמר he הנרי בסמר hu Sir Henry Bessemer ja ヘンリー・ベッセマー ko 헨리 베서머 nl Sir Henry Bessemer pl Sir Henry Bessemer pt Sir henry bessemer ro Sir Henry Bessemer

🔖 Identifiers · 82

ISNI: 0000000082040954
VIAF cluster ID: 18013161
Library of Congress Authorities ID: n88258882
GND ID: 118510231
Alvin ID: alvin-person:8070
Amazon author ID: B001KMKOO4
Arabic Ontology lexical concept ID: 151058982
Article ID in the Lithuanian Universal Encyclopedia Online: henry-bessemer
BHCL UUID: 762cb20d-dd3f-4ab8-8218-243b0cce6770
BIBSYS ID: 90179929
BNB person ID (OBSOLETE): BessemerHenrySir1813-1898
BabelNet ID: 00010090n

Show all 82 identifiers +70

Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 13746612q
Bridgeman artist ID: 28677
British Museum person or institution ID: 84774
Brockhaus Enzyklopädie online ID: bessemer-henry
CERL Thesaurus ID: cnp01372268
CiNii Research ID: 1140845216739028736
Comic Vine ID: 4005-129319
DDB person (GND) ID: 118510231
Darwin Correspondence ID: 6584
Deutsche Biographie (GND) ID: 118510231
Enciclopedia Galega Universal ID: 86065
Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID: biography/Henry-Bessemer
Encyclopædia Universalis ID: bessemer-sir-henry
FAST ID: 246814
FES digital collections entity ID: 376084
Find a Grave memorial ID: 13104023
Freebase ID: /m/0c2ny
Geni profile ID: 6000000042348257967
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: henry-bessemer
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID (former scheme): 0009709
Great Norwegian Encyclopedia ID: Henry_Bessemer
Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2017): 1862175
Great Russian Encyclopedia portal ID: bessemer-genri-c5b8ce
Harper's tag: henry-sir-bessemer
Hrvatska enciklopedija ID: 7276
IdRef ID: 083762264
Interlingual Index ID: i94468
J9U entity ID: 987007278591705171
Kalliope-Verbund (GND) ID: 118510231
Krugosvet article (archived): nauka_i_tehnika/tehnologiya_i_promyshlennost/BESSEMER_GENRI.html
Lex ID: Henry_Bessemer
Lur Encyclopedic Dictionary ID: 00978/eu_b_2862/b2862
NACSIS-CAT author ID: DA04525491
NDL Authority ID: 00620363
NE.se ID: henry-bessemer
NL CR AUT ID: mzk2005269639
NLP ID: a0000003138981
NNDB people ID: 062/000094777
NUKAT ID: n2019150959
National Inventors Hall of Fame ID: henry-bessemer
National Library of Brazil ID: 001507932
National Library of Ireland ID: vtls001162527
National Library of Israel ID (old): 000495725
National Library of Korea ID: KAC2018P7717
National Library of Lithuania ID: LNB:CxRB;=Bl
National Library of Poland MMS ID: 9810639358905606
National Portrait Gallery (London) person ID: mp05082
Nationale Thesaurus voor Auteursnamen ID: 098865595
Obálky knih ID: mzk2005269639
Online Books Page author ID: Bessemer, Henry, Sir, 1813-1898
Online PWN Encyclopedia ID: 3876609
Open Library ID: OL1002073A
Open Plaques subject ID: 6911
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography ID: 2287
Oxford Reference overview ID: 20110803095502737
Past Fellow of the Royal Society ID: NA1539
Proleksis enciklopedija ID: 12028
SNAC ARK ID: w60c6w5w
SNARC ID: Maurus Wolter
Science Museum people ID: cp37019
Semantic Scholar author ID: 40704865
Treccani ID: sir-henry-bessemer
Treccani's Enciclopedia Italiana ID: bessemer-henry-sir
UK National Archives ID: F40104
WBIS ID: B15310
Wellcome Collection concept ID: mu7wrv7j
WikiTree person ID: Bessemer-15
WordNet 3.1 Synset ID: 10869469-n
WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJwRTyjwXChGcBfgfVyw4q
Yale LUX ID: person/3fd1314e-3ba7-4fa2-b6ee-bc535860ca68

Report an error or request removal Lineage (PROV-JSON)

🔗 Connections

Award received 5

Fellow of the Royal Society, Knight Bachelor, Albert Medal, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Inventors Hall of Fame

Described by source 5

Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition, Nordisk familjebok, New International Encyclopedia, The Nuttall Encyclopædia

Occupation 4

engineer, inventor, businessperson, metallurgist

Languages spoken, written or signed 2

English, French

Member of 2

Royal Society of London, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Named after 2

Bessemer process, Bessemer Gold Medal

Country of citizenship 1

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

Field of work 1

metallurgy

Given name 1

Henry

Instance of 1

human

Place of burial 1

West Norwood Cemetery

Place of death 1

London

SNARC ID 1

Maurus Wolter

Sex or gender 1

male

Writing language 1

English

← Discoverer or inventor 1

Bessemer process

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Summary

Henry Bessemer was born on January 19, 1813^[1], in Charlton^[2]. He died on March 15, 1898^[3], in London^[4]. He worked as an engineer^[5], inventor^[6], metallurgist^[7], and businessperson^[8].

Body

Works and Contributions

Things named for Henry Bessemer include Bessemer process^[34], a process^[35] and Bessemer Gold Medal^[36], an award^[37], in United Kingdom^[38], founded in 1874^[39].

Why It Matters

He is credited with the discovery of Bessemer process^[40], a process^[41]. Entities named for him include Bessemer process^[34], a process^[35] and Bessemer Gold Medal^[36], an award^[37], in United Kingdom^[38], founded in 1874^[39].

FAQs

Where was Henry Bessemer born?

Henry Bessemer's place of birth was Charlton^[2].

Where did Henry Bessemer die?

Henry Bessemer died in London^[4].

What did Henry Bessemer do for work?

Henry Bessemer worked as an engineer^[5], inventor^[6], metallurgist^[7], and businessperson^[8].

What awards did Henry Bessemer receive?

Honors received include Fellow of the Royal Society^[12], National Inventors Hall of Fame^[13], Albert Medal^[14], and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences^[15].

What did Henry Bessemer discover?

Henry Bessemer is credited as discoverer of Bessemer process^[40].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

[2] ↑ Henry Bessemer — place of birth (P19): Charlton. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 2026-09-17. wikidata.org.
[4] ↑ Henry Bessemer — place of death (P20): London. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978). Retrieved 2015-09-28. wikidata.org.
[19] ↑ Henry Bessemer — sex or gender (P21): male. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2024-07-15. wikidata.org.
[10] ↑ Henry Bessemer — country of citizenship (P27): United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. wikidata.org.
[11] ↑ Henry Bessemer — field of work (P101): metallurgy. wikidata.org.
[5] ↑ Henry Bessemer — occupation (P106): engineer. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[6] ↑ Henry Bessemer — occupation (P106): inventor. wikidata.org.
[7] ↑ Henry Bessemer — occupation (P106): metallurgist. wikidata.org.
[8] ↑ Henry Bessemer — occupation (P106): businessperson. Retrieved 2019-06-14. wikidata.org.
[9] ↑ Henry Bessemer — place of burial (P119): West Norwood Memorial Park Tomb Of Sir Henry Bessemer. wikidata.org.
[12] ↑ Henry Bessemer — award received (P166): Fellow of the Royal Society. catalogues.royalsociety.org. Retrieved 2026-09-20. catalogues.royalsociety.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[13] ↑ Henry Bessemer — award received (P166): National Inventors Hall of Fame. National Inventors Hall of Fame. wikidata.org.
[14] ↑ Henry Bessemer — award received (P166): Albert Medal. collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-20. collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[15] ↑ Henry Bessemer — award received (P166): Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. wikidata.org.
[16] ↑ Henry Bessemer — award received (P166): Knight Bachelor. wikidata.org.
[17] ↑ Henry Bessemer — member of (P463): Royal Society of London. catalogues.royalsociety.org. Retrieved 2026-09-20. catalogues.royalsociety.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[18] ↑ Henry Bessemer — member of (P463): American Academy of Arts and Sciences. wikidata.org.
[1] ↑ Henry Bessemer — date of birth (P569): January 19, 1813. BnF authorities. Retrieved 2015-10-10. wikidata.org.
[3] ↑ Henry Bessemer — date of death (P570): March 15, 1898. BnF authorities. Retrieved 2015-10-10. wikidata.org.
[20] ↑ Henry Bessemer — family name (P734): Bessemer (surname). wikidata.org.
[21] ↑ Henry Bessemer — given name (P735): Henry. wikidata.org.
[22] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): Nordisk familjebok. wikidata.org.
[23] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978). wikidata.org.
[24] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): Dictionary of National Biography, first supplement. wikidata.org.
[25] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. wikidata.org.
[26] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): The Nuttall Encyclopædia. wikidata.org.
[27] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947). wikidata.org.
[28] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. wikidata.org.
[29] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition. wikidata.org.
[30] ↑ Henry Bessemer — described by source (P1343): New International Encyclopedia. wikidata.org.
[31] ↑ Henry Bessemer — languages spoken, written or signed (P1412): French. wikidata.org.
[32] ↑ Henry Bessemer — languages spoken, written or signed (P1412): English. BnF authorities. Retrieved 2015-10-10. wikidata.org.
[33] ↑ Henry Bessemer — name in native language (P1559): Henry Bessemer‎. wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

Inline context (facts about related entities)

[41] ↑ Bessemer process — P31: process. Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
[35] ↑ Bessemer process — P31: process. Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
[37] ↑ Bessemer Gold Medal — P31: award. Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
[38] ↑ Bessemer Gold Medal — P17: United Kingdom. Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
[39] ↑ Bessemer Gold Medal — P571: 1874. Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

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APA

4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Henry Bessemer. Retrieved November 8, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/henry-bessemer

MLA “Henry Bessemer.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 8 Nov. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/henry-bessemer.

BibTeX

@misc{4ortxyz_henry-bessemer_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Henry Bessemer}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/henry-bessemer}, note = {Accessed: 2026-11-08}}

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25d ago · OKA bot bot · 2026-10-17 view diff on Wikidata ↗

"source for place of death, source for date of birth, source for date of death from Store norske leksikon (…"
7w ago · Yuriklim · 2026-09-17 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Amazon author ID → B001KMKOO4

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8w ago · Yuriklim · 2026-09-16 view diff on Wikidata ↗

National Library of Brazil ID → 001507932

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12w ago · Mahirtwofivesix · 2026-08-18 view diff on Wikidata ↗

BabelNet ID → 00010090n

Harper's tag → henry-sir-bessemer

WordNet 3.1 Synset ID → 10869469-n

Arabic Ontology lexical concept ID → 151058982

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FES digital collections entity ID → 376084

"Created claim: FES digital collections entity ID: 376084, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1782462304762"
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Darwin Correspondence ID → 6584

"Created claim: Darwin Correspondence ID: 6584, batch #258229"
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CERL Thesaurus ID → cnp01372268

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