George Herman Babcock | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Babcock in 1887 | |
| Born | (1832-06-17)June 17, 1832 Unadilla Forks, New York, US |
| Died | December 16, 1893(1893-12-16) (aged 61) |
| Engineering career | |
| Significant advance | Co-inventor of an improved safetywater tube boiler |
| Signature | |
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George Herman Babcock (June 17, 1832 – December 16, 1893) was an American inventor. He andStephen Wilcox co-invented a saferwater tube steam boiler, and founded theBabcock & Wilcox boiler company.
Babcock was born inUnadilla Forks, New York, in a family of inventors.[1] As a boy he started his career in the woolen mill industry. When he was still in his teens he started aprinting office inWesterly, Rhode Island. Here he founded theLiterary Echo journal, which was later renamedThe Narragansett and was continued until the end of the 19th century. Through his interest in photography, he started a printing-press manufacture, for which he invented a polychromatic press for printing in several colors.[2]
After moving to New York Babcock taughtmechanical drawing at theCooper Institute. He was a draughtsman for the Mystic Iron Company and the Hope Iron Company inProvidence. Here withStephen Wilcox, he developed the Babcock and Wilcox engine, which was taken into production.[2] Together they founded theBabcock & Wilcox boiler company in 1867, with Babcock as president and Wilcox as vice president.
Babcock's water tube steam boiler provided a safer and more efficient production of steam, and was built to work better under higher pressures than earlier boilers. In 1881, the first utility boiler manufactured by Babcock and Wilcox was installed. From 1886 to 1887, Babcock served as president of theAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers.
In 1889, Babcock was visiting a friend nearAlfred, New York, and learned about the nearbyCeladon Terra Cotta Company. He bought stock and soon became a majority shareholder, becoming company president in 1890. As president he took out sixteen patents for new clay roof tile designs, such as theConosera tile pattern.[3]
He died inPlainfield, New Jersey, on December 16, 1893.[4]
In 1997, Babcock was inducted into theNational Inventors Hall of Fame.
