born 1704, Holland
died June 21, 1776, Sheffield, Yorkshire, Eng.
British inventor of the crucible process .
A clockmaker and instrument maker, Huntsman opened a plant in Sheffield 0441; 1740, where he produced steel for clock and watch springs. His new process yielded cast steel more uniform in composition and freer from impurities than any previously produced. Sheffield steelmakers used the crucible process to achieve worldwide dominance in the production of tool and other high-quality steels.