Frederick Ransome

Frederick Ransome (1818-1893) was a British inventor and industrialist, creator of Ransome's artificial stone.

Frederick was the son of James Ransome, 1782-1849, a member of the Ransomes steel and agricultural equipment-making family of Ipswich.

In 1844 Frederick invented an artificial sandstone, using sand and powdered flint in an alkine solution. By heating it in an enclosed high temperature steam boiler the siliceous particles were bound together and could be moulded or worked. With properties equivalent to natural stone, it found applications as filtering slabs, vases, tombstones, decorative architectural work, emery wheels and grindstones. Ransome founded the Patent Siliceous Stone Company in order to produce and sell the stone, with an illustrious group of backers that included Charles Darwin. However, the stone fell out of use, in favour of Portland cement-based concrete, which could be cast on-site.

Ransome became an associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1848.

He died at East Dulwich on 19 April 1893 and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery.

References

* The Mechanic's Magazine, p126 Ransome's Patent Artificial Stone at [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dRIFAAAAQAAJ Google books]
* [http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/darwinletters/calendar/entry-4780.html Charles Darwin's correspondence] #4780 6 Mar 1865 Ransome requests a postponement of payment on a note for £100.