John Baildon
John Baildon was a Scottish pioneer in metallurgy in continental Europe.
Baildon was born in Larbert, Stirlingshire. In 1793, he came to Prussian Silesia on the invitation of Friedrich [Wilhelm von Reden|Friedrich von Reden]. During the remainder of his life in Silesia, Baildon was involved in numerous pioneering industrial undertakings, including construction of the first blast furnaces fired by coke in continental Europe, the Kanał Kłodnicki (Klodnitz Canal), and the first iron bridge in continental Europe.
John married Helene Antonie Galli, daughter of an Italian merchant, in Gliwice in 1804 and had 7 children. He died in Gliwice and is buried there at the Metallurgical Cemetery, known as the Cmentarz Hutniczy in Polish.
A major steel works was named after him.