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 (1850-1885), 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.