John Basset (writer)

John Basset (17 November 1791 – 4 July 1843) was a writer on Cornish mining. He was deeply interested in Cornish mining, mining technology and economics.

Born at Illogan in Cornwall, he published an article in 1840^[1] drawing attention to the devices called "Man Engines" for mechanically raising and lowering mine workers up and down the mine-shaft, replacing many yards of ladders. These devices were known to operate in the Harz Mountains in Germany. The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (which had published the paper), offered a prize for a version suitable for use in Cornish mines, which was won by Michael Loam.^[2]

Basset was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1837, and MP for Helston in 1840–41.^[2]

He died at Boppard am Rhein, Germany, on 4 July 1843 aged 51.

References[]

^ On the machinery used for raising miners in the Harz, Report of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, 1840 (pp. 59–62).
^ ^a ^b W. H. Tregellas, ‘Basset, John (1791–1843)’, rev. Philip Payton, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 16 Nov 2007