Sir William Siemens

doi:10.17104/9783406751479

Sir William Siemens

1823-1883

1. Edition 2020

No access

doi.org/10.17104/9783406751479
ISBN print: 978-3-406-75145-5
ISBN online: 978-3-406-75147-9
C.H.BECK, München C.H.BECK, München

Zusammenfassung

William Siemens was one of the founding personalities of Siemens as a company. Born in Germany, he emigrated to England, where he earned a multitude of honors and respect. He led the Siemens business in England in addition to his activities as an independent engineer and entrepreneur. Among other areas, he worked on the global telegraphy system and metallurgical innovations as well as issues related to energy savings and protecting the environment. His name is associated with the Siemens-Martin process, the world’s most important process for steel production for an entire century. With this biography, Wolfgang König brings to life an era in which industrialization came of age and globalization began to change the face of the world. William Siemens and his brothers Werner and Carl formed a “league of siblings“ that created the global company, Siemens. William was, in particular, responsible for building up the English business. He was instrumental in the company’s commitment to transoceanic telegraphy, which was a major contributor to the globalization of the 19th century. Among the Siemens brothers, he stood out as an exception on many fronts: He was not an electrical engineer but rather a trained mechanical engineer; he emigrated from Germany and became an English citizen; and, in addition to his responsibilities within Siemens, he was also an independent inventor and entrepreneur. The biography by Wolfgang König paints a fascinating picture of a successful entrepreneur, inventor, and engineer who was at home in multiple disciplines as well as in two distinct national cultures. With this work, König also contributes to a cultural comparison between the two industrialized nations of Germany and England.

Abstract

William Siemens was one of the founding personalities of Siemens as a company. Born in Germany, he emigrated to England, where he earned a multitude of honors and respect. He led the Siemens business in England in addition to his activities as an independent engineer and entrepreneur. Among other areas, he worked on the global telegraphy system and metallurgical innovations as well as issues related to energy savings and protecting the environment. His name is associated with the Siemens-Martin process, the world’s most important process for steel production for an entire century. With this biography, Wolfgang König brings to life an era in which industrialization came of age and globalization began to change the face of the world. William Siemens and his brothers Werner and Carl formed a “league of siblings“ that created the global company, Siemens. William was, in particular, responsible for building up the English business. He was instrumental in the company’s commitment to transoceanic telegraphy, which was a major contributor to the globalization of the 19th century. Among the Siemens brothers, he stood out as an exception on many fronts: He was not an electrical engineer but rather a trained mechanical engineer; he emigrated from Germany and became an English citizen; and, in addition to his responsibilities within Siemens, he was also an independent inventor and entrepreneur. The biography by Wolfgang König paints a fascinating picture of a successful entrepreneur, inventor, and engineer who was at home in multiple disciplines as well as in two distinct national cultures. With this work, König also contributes to a cultural comparison between the two industrialized nations of Germany and England.

Chapter Expand | CollapsePage
1–II Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 1–II
7–15 Introduction 7–15
15–23 Chapter 1 Background, Youth, and Education 15–23
- 15–20 The Siemens family and Werner’s influence 15–20
- 20–23 The mechanical engineer 20–23
23–39 Chapter 2 Off to England 23–39
- 23–30 An inventor’s precarious existence 23–30
- 30–39 Emigration, marriage, naturalization 30–39
39–79 Chapter 3 The Siemens Business in England 39–79
- 39–47 Werner’s communicator 39–47
- 47–51 The Siemens companies 47–51
- 51–55 Life plans in conflict 51–55
- 55–79 Globalization via telegraph cable 55–79
79–131 Chapter 4 A Citizen of the World in Germany and England 79–131
- 79–84 Family and lifestyle 79–84
- 84–103 Technical and scientific associations 84–103
- 103–118 Personal networks 103–118
  - 103–110 Scientific communities 103–110
  - 110–113 Investors and business partners 110–113
  - 113–118 The German Expat Community 113–118
- 118–131 Views on politics and society 118–131
  - 118–125 The German Question 118–125
  - 125–131 Science, religion, and society 125–131
131–169 Chapter 5 Clusters of Technical Innovation 131–169
- 131–141 The regenerative principle 131–141
- 141–151 Energy and the environment 141–151
- 151–157 Electrical engineering 151–157
- 157–169 Iron and steel 157–169
169–173 Chapter 6 Scientific Studies of the Sun 169–173
173–195 Chapter 7 A Summation 173–195
- 173–182 William and his brothers 173–182
  - 173–178 Werner and William 173–178
  - 178–179 Carl and William 178–179
  - 179–182 Friedrich and William 179–182
- 182–191 The engineer and scientist 182–191
- 191–195 The entrepreneur 191–195
195–203 Chapter 8 Legacy 195–203
203–205 Between Striving for Innovation and a Family Firm – A Conclusion 203–205
205–266 Appendix 205–266
- 205–239 Note 205–239
- 239–247 Wilhelm Siemens: List of Writings 239–247
- 247–257 Sources and Literature 247–257
  - 247–247 Archives 247–247
  - 247–248 Journals 247–248
  - 248–257 Bibliography 248–257
- 257–259 Illustration Credits 257–259
- 259–263 Index of Names 259–263
- 263–266 Index of Places and Subjects 263–266
266–266 About the book 266–266

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