The New International Encyclopædia/Krupp, Friedrich

KRUPP, (1787-1826). Ironmaster and founder of the famous Krupp Works. He was born at Essen, Rhenish Prussia, and after the death of his father he was brought up by his grandmother, who had, in 1800, purchased the Sterkrade Works. Here Friedrich endeavored to make cast steel, the secret of which was carefully guarded in England. With Gottlob Jacobs, an engineer, Krupp made his first experiments at the Sterkrade Works, and after the sale of the plant in 1808 continued his attempts independently at Essen. In 1810 he founded a small forging plant near Essen, and in 1815 formed a partnership with Friedrich Nicolai for the production of cast steel, a product which was found excellent for certain purposes, such as mint dies, stamps for buttons, etc. Yet the demand was not sufficient to keep the works in operation, and soon after 1820 Krupp was obliged to give up his house to occupy a small one-story laborer's cottage near his plant. The hut is still preserved in the midst of the present gigantic establishment. Shortly before his death he confided to his son Alfred (q.v.) the secret of making cast steel, which the latter developed successfully.