Christian Edward Detmold
Encyclopedia
Christian Edward Detmold (2 February 1810 Hanover
- 2 July 1887 New York City
) was an engineer.
ian army. Unfavorable accounts of the conditions in Brazil induced him to remain in the United States
, and he became well known as an engineer. In 1827 he made many surveys in Charleston, South Carolina
, and vicinity for the Charleston & Hamburg Railroad and Canal Co., and in 1828 made the drawings for the first locomotive built by the Kembles in New York. His survey work was completed in 1830. 1833-1834 he was in the employ of the U. S. War Department, and superintended the laying of the foundations of Fort Sumter
during the illness of the engineer in charge of the work.
After making surveys for railroads in various parts of the country, he became interested in the manufacture of iron, and introduced several improvements, including the utilization of the waste gases from blast and other furnaces. 1845-1852 he engaged in this manufacture in Lonaconing, Maryland
. He then built the New York Crystal Palace
, being the supervising architect and engineer. He hired Horatio Allen
, an associate during his surveying work, as consulting engineer. Afterward, he spent some years traveling in Europe
. He then became president of the New Jersey Zinc Company, built their works at Newark, and originated and successfully developed the manufacture of “spiegel” iron from the residue of the zinc
ore. He then engaged in coal mining.
Failing health forced him to go to Europe, where he lived, most of the time in Paris
, until his return to New York in 1885. He published a translation of the principal historical, political, and diplomatic writings of Machiavelli (4 vols., Boston, 1882). He also collected art.
, was a noted surgeon who introduced orthopedic surgery
into the United States.
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
- 2 July 1887 New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) was an engineer.
Biography
He was educated at the military academy in Hanover, and came to New York in 1826, with the intention of entering the BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian army. Unfavorable accounts of the conditions in Brazil induced him to remain in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and he became well known as an engineer. In 1827 he made many surveys in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, and vicinity for the Charleston & Hamburg Railroad and Canal Co., and in 1828 made the drawings for the first locomotive built by the Kembles in New York. His survey work was completed in 1830. 1833-1834 he was in the employ of the U. S. War Department, and superintended the laying of the foundations of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
during the illness of the engineer in charge of the work.
After making surveys for railroads in various parts of the country, he became interested in the manufacture of iron, and introduced several improvements, including the utilization of the waste gases from blast and other furnaces. 1845-1852 he engaged in this manufacture in Lonaconing, Maryland
Lonaconing, Maryland
Lonaconing is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located along the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,205 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. He then built the New York Crystal Palace
New York Crystal Palace
New York Crystal Palace was an exhibition building constructed for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York City in 1853, which was under the presidency of Mayor Jacob Aaron Westervelt...
, being the supervising architect and engineer. He hired Horatio Allen
Horatio Allen
Horatio Allen LL.D was an American civil engineer and inventor.Born in Schenectady, New York, he graduated from Columbia in 1823, and was appointed the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company chief engineer. In 1828 he was sent to England to buy locomotives for the canal company's projected railway...
, an associate during his surveying work, as consulting engineer. Afterward, he spent some years traveling in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He then became president of the New Jersey Zinc Company, built their works at Newark, and originated and successfully developed the manufacture of “spiegel” iron from the residue of the zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
ore. He then engaged in coal mining.
Failing health forced him to go to Europe, where he lived, most of the time in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, until his return to New York in 1885. He published a translation of the principal historical, political, and diplomatic writings of Machiavelli (4 vols., Boston, 1882). He also collected art.
Family
He married Phoebe Crary who survived him with two daughters. His brother, William Ludwig DetmoldWilliam Ludwig Detmold
William Ludwig Detmold was a German-American surgeon who introduced orthopedic surgery into the United States.-Biography:...
, was a noted surgeon who introduced orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
into the United States.