John Baildon

Who was John Baildon?

John Baildon was a Scottish pioneer in metallurgy in continental Europe.

Baildon was born in Larbert, Stirlingshire. In 1793, he came to Prussian Silesia on the invitation of Friedrich von Reden. During the remainder of his life in Silesia, Baildon was involved in numerous pioneering industrial undertakings, including construction of the first blast furnaces fired by coke in continental Europe, the Klodnitz Canal, and the first iron bridge in continental Europe.

John married Helene Antonie Galli, daughter of an Italian merchant, in Gleiwitz in 1804 and had 7 children. He died in Gleiwitz and is buried there.

A major steel works was named after him.