John Lane (metallurgist)

Dr John Lane (c.October 1678 - 1741) was an 18th century doctor and metallurgist, who is said to have experimented with making metallic zinc, probably without result.^[1]

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He studied medicine at Oxford. He married Elizabeth Pollard, heiress of Marsh Baldon, Oxfordshire in 1713, who survived him, only dying in 1771 at the age of 83.

In the 1717 with John Pollard (possibly his step father-in-law), John Lane established the Llangyfelach copper works at Landore near Swansea but became bankrupt in 1726, a victim of the South Sea Bubble. The Llangefelach Works were subsequently used by Lockwood, Morris & Co.

In addition, at some stage he had a stamping mill at Kidwelly, on the site later used for Kidwelly Tinplate Works. His partner had copper mines in Cornwall.

Lane seems to have lived at Bristol, where he was practising medicine by 1702. He participated in commercial life there, for example investing in a privateering venture from there in 1708 and in 1714 in the proposed navigation to Bath, for which see River Avon (Bristol). Despite his bankruptcy, he was able to lease a house in College Green at Bristol in 1728 and continued to practise medicine with a good reputation.

References

• R. O. Roberts, 'Dr John Lane and the foundation of the non-ferrous metal industry in the Swansea valley' Gower 4 (1951), 19-24.
• F. V. Emery, 'Further light on Dr John Lane' Gower 20 (1969), 8-13.
• R. O. Roberts, 'Further note on Dr John Lane' Gower 22 (1972), 23-5.