Memoirs and Letters of Sidney Gilchrist Thomas Inventor

First published in 1891 this memoir describes the life of the metallurgist and inventor Sidney Gilchrist Thomas (18501885) best-known for discovering the method of eliminating phosphorus from pig iron which revolutionised the commercial production of steel. Professing a desire to give a ''true'' account of a life in contrast to the somewhat hagiographic approach of some contemporary writers Thomas'' biographer R. W. Burnie sets out to construct ''a brief history of a very striking and individual character''. The details of Thomas'' short life are narrated in 22 chapters beginning with his early education his work as a schoolmaster and police clerk whilst studying law and chemistry at night his career and his work-related travels which took him everywhere from central Europe to New Zealand. The memoir also includes a postscript which reveals that Thomas left his considerable fortune to workers in steel production.