Abraham Darby I

Abraham Darby, in his later life called Abraham Darby the Elder, now sometimes known for convenience as Abraham Darby I, was a British ironmaster and foundryman. Born into an English Quaker family that played an important role in the Industrial Revolution, Darby developed a method of producing pig iron in a blast furnace fuelled by coke rather than charcoal. This was a major step forward in the production of iron as a raw material for the Industrial Revolution.

14 April 1678

Born on the same birth day (14 April): Anderson Silva • André Boisclair • Arnold J. Toynbee • Augustus Pitt Rivers • Carlos Pérez (pitcher) • David G. Burnet • David Urquhart (bishop) • Georgina Chapman • Magnus Julius De la Gardie • Marios Elia • Michael Sarris • Noé Pamarot • Pat Symcox • Rob McElhenney • Ross Filipo • Thomas Schelling • Tina Rosenberg