Alexander Lyman Holley

Mechanical engineer and metallurgist, born in Lakeville, Connecticut, USA. While still in college he devised improvements for steam locomotives, and after working in locomotive plants he published Holley's Railroad Advocate (1855–7) and wrote many technical articles, usually under the name Tubal Cain. In 1863 he went to England to purchase the American rights to the Bessemer process, and then supervised construction of the first such US plant at Troy, NY. For his work in engineering other steel plants, he became known as ‘the father of modern American steel manufacture’, and his statue was placed in New York's Washington Square.

Alexander Lyman Holley (born 20 July 1832 - died 29 January 1882) was a mechanical engineer and was considered the foremost steel and plant engineer and designer of his time, especially in regard to applying research to modern steel manufacturing processes. He chaired the first meeting of the founders of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in the offices of the American Machinist on 16 February 1880, and is credited for establishing the intellectual boundaries of the mechanical engineering profession and ASME. During his early 20s, Holley was a close friend of Zerah Colburn, the well-known locomotive engineer and journalist/publilsher. In 1857, the duo visited Britain and France and compiled a report for the presidents of American railroads, The Permanent Way. Holley's most famous book, Armor, followed a visit he made to Britain in 1863 when he again met Zerah Colburn.