John Basset

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John Basset (17 November 1791 – 4 July 1843) was a writer on Cornish mining. He was deeply interested in Cornish mining, mining technology and economics.

Born at at Illogan in Cornwall, he published an article in 1840[1] drawing attention to the devices called "Man Engines" for mechanically raising and lowering mine workers up and down the mine-shaft, replacing many yards of ladders. These devices were known to operate in the Harz Mountains in Germany. The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (which had published the paper), offered a prize for a version suitable for use in Cornish mines, which was won by Michael Loam.[2]Basset was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1837, and MP for Helston in 1840–41.[2] He died at Boppard am Rhein, Germany, on 4 July 1843.

[edit] References

  1. ^ On the machinery used for raising miners in the Harz, Report of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, 1840 (pp. 59–62).
  2. ^ a b W. H. Tregellas, ‘Basset, John (1791–1843)’, rev. Philip Payton, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 16 Nov 2007
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
George John Frederick Sackville		 Member of Parliament for Helston
1840–1841		 Succeeded by
Sir Richard Vyvyan, 8th Baronet


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