Richard Reynolds (ironmaster)
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Richard Reynolds (November 1735 – 10 September 1816) was an ironmaster, a partner in the ironworks in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, at a significant time in the history of iron production. He was a Quaker and philanthropist.
Richard Reynolds was born in Bristol in 1735, the only son of Richard, an iron merchant, and wife Jane. He was great-grandson of Michael Reynolds of Faringdon, Berkshire, an early Quaker. After his education he was apprenticed in 1749 to William Fry, a grocer in Bristol. After serving the apprenticeship in 1756, he was sent on business to Coalbrookdale, and there he became a friend of Abraham Darby II. He married Darby's daughter, Hannah, at Shrewsbury on 20 May 1757.[1][2]
He was in charge of Abraham Darby's ironworks at Ketley, near Coalbrookdale, and in 1762 he bought a half share in the Ketley works. When his father-in-law died in 1763, he moved to Coalbrookdale and took charge of the works there, until Abraham Darby III came of age in 1768; he then returned to managing the Ketley works.[1][2][3]
Innovations at Coalbrookdale
Reynolds did much to develop and extend the Coalbrookdale works. Under his direction the cylinders of early steam engines were cast there.[2]
New refining process
In 1766 a patent for refining iron was taken out under his auspices by the Cranege brothers; Thomas Cranege worked at a forge at Bridgnorth and his brother George worked at Coalbrookdale. The new process of converting pig iron into wrought iron used a reverbatory furnace powered by coal, instead of the charcoal used in a finery forge, and so was not dependent on a supply of wood. Reynolds saw its importance, and it seems to have been practically carried out at Coalbrookdale. The process was later developed by Henry Cort.[1][2]
Iron rails
In 1767 he replaced the wooden rails, for the railways taking iron and coal from one part of the works to another, with cast iron rails; it is thought this was the first time iron rails were used for transportation.[1][2]
