Sir William Congreve, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Sir William Congreve, 1st Baronet (died 1814)
During the second half of the 18th century, the British government became increasingly concerned over the volume and quality of gunpowder
produced by the private manufacturers. It became involved directly in the process starting with the purchase of the powder mills at Faversham
in 1759.
In April 1783, the British Board of Ordnance
appointed Major
William Congreve to be responsible for the manufacture and proof of gunpowder in Britain. In his previous post of Deputy Comptroller (acting Comptroller) of the Royal Laboratories at the Royal Arsenal
, Woolwich, he had already demonstrated his remarkable ability for invention and organisation. He set about making the government manufacturing facilities model factories and encouraged private companies to follow the innovations he introduced.
His previous work in experimentation allowed him to make the transition between research and production a smoother process and to introduce manufacturing changes that would have far-reaching implications on the quality and quantity of output.
His work to 'establish a proper mode of proof' was important to the armed forces at the time who complained about the consistency of the powder. Congreve felt that the quality of ingredients was at the root of problems and set about building refining capability into his factories.
He became involved in political wrangles with the Prime Minister
of the time, William Pitt
, who, prompted by private manufacturers, asserted that government powder was more expensive and of inferior quality. Congreve not only argued for the continuation of government manufacturing at Faversham
by showing that stronger, cheaper powder was produced there but he achieved his aim of purchasing a second plant, the mill at Waltham Abbey
. He purchased the facility from the Walton family in 1787 for the sum of £10,000. This became known as the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills
.
Congreve reviewed the process of corning black powder and established the advantaged of using larger grain (measure)
powders in cannons and finer grain powders in small arms
, overturning the Board of Ordnance policy of a single grain size for all weapons.
Congreve continued to develop new production methods. This included detailed experiments in 1785 at the Faversham Mill into the different types of wood used to produce charcoal
, the most variable of the three ingredients of powder. In collaboration with Dr Watson, Bishop of Llandaff
and following a method proposed by George Fordyce
, he established that stronger powder could be made from charcoal produced in sealed iron retorts or cylinders.
Congreve was made a Baronet
in 1812 and died in 1814. He was succeeded in his posts by his son, William Congreve (inventor)
of the Congreve Rocket
.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Sir William Congreve, 1st Baronet (died 1814)
During the second half of the 18th century, the British government became increasingly concerned over the volume and quality of gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
produced by the private manufacturers. It became involved directly in the process starting with the purchase of the powder mills at Faversham
Faversham
Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. The parish of Faversham grew up around an ancient sea port on Faversham Creek and was the birthplace of the explosives industry in England.-History:...
in 1759.
In April 1783, the British Board of Ordnance
Board of Ordnance
The Board of Ordnance was a British government body responsible for the supply of armaments and munitions to the Royal Navy and British Army. It was also responsible for providing artillery trains for armies and maintaining coastal fortresses and, later, management of the artillery and engineer...
appointed Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
William Congreve to be responsible for the manufacture and proof of gunpowder in Britain. In his previous post of Deputy Comptroller (acting Comptroller) of the Royal Laboratories at the Royal Arsenal
Royal Arsenal
The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, originally known as the Woolwich Warren, carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research for the British armed forces. It was sited on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England.-Early history:The Warren...
, Woolwich, he had already demonstrated his remarkable ability for invention and organisation. He set about making the government manufacturing facilities model factories and encouraged private companies to follow the innovations he introduced.
His previous work in experimentation allowed him to make the transition between research and production a smoother process and to introduce manufacturing changes that would have far-reaching implications on the quality and quantity of output.
His work to 'establish a proper mode of proof' was important to the armed forces at the time who complained about the consistency of the powder. Congreve felt that the quality of ingredients was at the root of problems and set about building refining capability into his factories.
He became involved in political wrangles with the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the time, William Pitt
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
, who, prompted by private manufacturers, asserted that government powder was more expensive and of inferior quality. Congreve not only argued for the continuation of government manufacturing at Faversham
Faversham
Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. The parish of Faversham grew up around an ancient sea port on Faversham Creek and was the birthplace of the explosives industry in England.-History:...
by showing that stronger, cheaper powder was produced there but he achieved his aim of purchasing a second plant, the mill at Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey, Essex
Waltham Abbey is a market town of about 20,400 people in the south west of the county of Essex, in the East of England region. It is about 24 km north of London on the Greenwich Meridian and lies between the River Lea in the west and Epping Forest in the east. It takes its name from The Abbey...
. He purchased the facility from the Walton family in 1787 for the sum of £10,000. This became known as the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills
Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills
The Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, an Anchor Point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage, , set in of parkland and containing 21 buildings of major historical importance, mixes history, science, and attractive surroundings...
.
Congreve reviewed the process of corning black powder and established the advantaged of using larger grain (measure)
Grain (measure)
A grain is a unit of measurement of mass that is nominally based upon the mass of a single seed of a cereal. From the Bronze Age into the Renaissance the average masses of wheat and barley grains were part of the legal definition of units of mass. However, there is no evidence of any country ever...
powders in cannons and finer grain powders in small arms
Small arms
Small arms is a term of art used by armed forces to denote infantry weapons an individual soldier may carry. The description is usually limited to revolvers, pistols, submachine guns, carbines, assault rifles, battle rifles, multiple barrel firearms, sniper rifles, squad automatic weapons, light...
, overturning the Board of Ordnance policy of a single grain size for all weapons.
Congreve continued to develop new production methods. This included detailed experiments in 1785 at the Faversham Mill into the different types of wood used to produce charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
, the most variable of the three ingredients of powder. In collaboration with Dr Watson, Bishop of Llandaff
Richard Watson (bishop)
Rt Rev Richard Watson was an Anglican clergyman and academic, who served as the Bishop of Llandaff from 1782 to 1816. He wrote some notable political pamphlets....
and following a method proposed by George Fordyce
George Fordyce
George Fordyce was a distinguished Scottish physician, lecturer on medicine, and chemist, who was a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.-Early life:...
, he established that stronger powder could be made from charcoal produced in sealed iron retorts or cylinders.
Congreve was made a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1812 and died in 1814. He was succeeded in his posts by his son, William Congreve (inventor)
William Congreve (inventor)
Sir William Congreve, 2nd Baronet was an English inventor and rocket artillery pioneer distinguished for his development and deployment of Congreve rockets.-Biography:...
of the Congreve Rocket
Congreve rocket
The Congreve Rocket was a British military weapon designed and developed by Sir William Congreve in 1804.The rocket was developed by the British Royal Arsenal following the experiences of the Second, Third and Fourth Mysore Wars. The wars fought between the British East India Company and the...
.