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John UzWelsh industrialist
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of John James Hughes
- Early Life and Career
- Career Success and Innovations
- The Venture in Russia
- Industrial Center and Legacy
Biography of John James Hughes
John James Hughes was a Welsh industrialist who founded the city of Donetsk, which was named Yuzovka until 1924. He was born in Merthyr Tydfil in 1814 and passed away in St. Petersburg in 1889.
Early Life and Career
Hughes was the son of an engineer who led one of the metallurgical plants in Merthyr Tydfil. He worked under his father's guidance during his youth. At the age of 28, he purchased a shipbuilding yard, and at 36, he acquired a foundry in Newport.
Career Success and Innovations
In the late 1850s, Hughes joined the Millwall Ironworks in Britain as an engineer and later became its director in 1860. In 1864, he designed carriages for heavy guns that were adopted by the navies of several European countries. He also developed a recipe for armoring ships and fortifications.
The Venture in Russia
At the age of 55, Hughes arrived in Russia. In 1869, he purchased land from Russian Prince Kochubey in the Ekaterinoslav Governorate, along the Kalmius River, to establish a metallurgical plant. He also founded the "Novorossiysk Society of Coal, Iron, and Rail Production" to develop coal resources in the area.
Industrial Center and Legacy
The first cast iron was produced at Hughes' plant in 1872. The plant operated a complete metallurgical cycle, pioneering the use of eight coke ovens and the adoption of hot blast technology in Russia. The industrial complex established by Hughes became one of the major industrial centers in Russia and later in Ukraine.
In honor of his contributions, a monument to John Hughes was erected in Donetsk in 2001. Additionally, his partially ruined house still stands in Donetsk, serving as a reminder of his achievements.
