Sir Arthur Dorman, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur John Dorman KBE
(8 August 1848 - 12 February 1931) was an important British
industrialist.
in Kent
the son of Charles Dorman and Emma Page and educated at Christ's Hospital
, West Sussex
.
iron works where a relative was a partner. Dorman started as a puddler
and rapidly progressed in his career. In 1875 he went into partnership with Albert de Laude Long
to acquire the West Marsh Ironworks in Middlesbrough
. During the 1880's they exploited the new steel making technologies being introduced at that time including use of Open hearth furnace
s. Together they built a large industrial concern, Dorman Long
, which by 1914 employed 20,000 people and during the World War I
was a major supplier of shells.
Arthur Dorman was made a KBE
in 1918 and a baronet
in 1923.
Sir Arthur Dorman died in 1931 at Grey Towers, his home in Nunthorpe
near Middlesbrough. His title was inherited by his eldest son Bedford Lockwood Dorman.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(8 August 1848 - 12 February 1931) was an important British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
industrialist.
Early life
He was born at AshfordAshford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
the son of Charles Dorman and Emma Page and educated at Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
.
Career
He was sent, at the age of 22, by his family to work at a Stockton-on-TeesStockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
iron works where a relative was a partner. Dorman started as a puddler
Puddling (metallurgy)
Puddling was an Industrial Revolution means of making iron and steel. In the original puddling technique, molten iron in a reverberatory furnace was stirred with rods, which were consumed in the process...
and rapidly progressed in his career. In 1875 he went into partnership with Albert de Laude Long
Albert de Laude Long
Albert De Laude Long was an English iron founder and manufacturer who co-founded the company Dorman Long. He was also an amateur rower who won the Wingfield Sculls in 1869 and 1870....
to acquire the West Marsh Ironworks in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. During the 1880's they exploited the new steel making technologies being introduced at that time including use of Open hearth furnace
Open hearth furnace
Open hearth furnaces are one of a number of kinds of furnace where excess carbon and other impurities are burnt out of the pig iron to produce steel. Since steel is difficult to manufacture due to its high melting point, normal fuels and furnaces were insufficient and the open hearth furnace was...
s. Together they built a large industrial concern, Dorman Long
Dorman Long
Dorman Long, based in Middlesbrough, North East England, was a major steel producer, which diversified into bridge building, and is now a manufacturer of steel components and construction equipment for bridges and other structures...
, which by 1914 employed 20,000 people and during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was a major supplier of shells.
Arthur Dorman was made a KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1918 and a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1923.
Family
He married Clara Lockwood in 1873 and together they had four sons and three daughters.Sir Arthur Dorman died in 1931 at Grey Towers, his home in Nunthorpe
Nunthorpe
Nunthorpe is a small outer suburb of the town of Middlesbrough, England. Nunthorpe is served by Nunthorpe and Gypsy Lane railway stations, both of which are on the Esk Valley Line from Middlesbrough to Whitby...
near Middlesbrough. His title was inherited by his eldest son Bedford Lockwood Dorman.