William Gorham Angell was an American inventor and manufacturer, who devised several improvements in the screw-making machinery of his era.
Background
William Gorham Angell was born on November 21, 1811 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the son of Enos Angell, a carpenter, and Catherine (Gorham) Angell.
He was a descendant of Thomas Angell, one of Providence’s first settlers. Despite his lineage, William’s family was one of modest means.
Several years of his youth were devoted to learning his father's trade, but an intense interest in machinery drew him to its field instead.
Education
His educational advantages were few; he acquired the mere rudiments of a commonschool education.
Career
Angell had what his associates described as an intuitive perception of the capabilities of a machine; and he used it to good advantage. In his early twenties he became a partner in a reed-making business. Meanwhile he engaged in experiments on the construction of machinery for making iron screws to be used in woodwork.
The American market at the time was supplied with English screws, rough and clumsy, and no one seemed to be dreaming of an American screw to compete with the English one.
Angell's inventive mind found ways for the improvement of screw-making machinery and when, in 1838, the Eagle Screw Company was formed, he became its agent and manager. They made a gimlet-pointed screw which, by a careful analysis of facts, he was able to persuade American merchants to buy. No artifice was needed as his product was superior to the English product.
The Eagle Screw Company, after twenty successful years in business, united with the New England Company to form the American Screw Company. Angell became its president and manager.
His strong character helped invaluably in the construction of buildings which would stand the strain of heavy machinery necessary in his business.
He had a keen interest in patents and patent laws, particularly as they applied to screw machinery, and he was frequently called upon to act as a referee in settling conflicting claims on different patents. Believing that a man could do but one thing well, he concentrated on his business to the exclusion of everything else.
Achievements
Religion
Angell joined no church.
Politics
Angell had no interest in politics.
Views
He gave little or no time to amusement.
Personality
Along with his inventive ability and sound business sagacity, Angell was an excellent draftsman and an architect and builder of no mean capacity.
Connections
He was married to Ann R. Stewart, and one of their two children, Edwin Gorham, succeeded him as president of the American Screw Company.