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1884: Sir Lowthian Bell
Sir Lowthian Bell (1816-1904)
16th President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, in 1816.
He studied at Edinburgh University, then at the Sorbonne, Paris. After finishing his university education he spent a year travelling the Continent examining the most important iron manufacturing plants. He then returned to study practical iron-making at the Walker Iron Works, where his father was a partner in the firm of Losh, Wilson and Bell.
In 1850, he joined with others in the establishment of chemical works at Washington, near Newcastle. It was here that formed the company of Bell Brothers with his brothers Thomas and John. They founded the first works in England for the manufacture of aluminium. They also founded the Clarence Iron Works near the mouth of the River Tees, where they erected three blast furnaces which were then the largest in the country.
The company was also a pioneer in the manufacture of salt in the area, was one of the largest colliery proprietors in South Durham, and owned ironstone mines and limestone quarries.
He died in 1904.
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