John Basset (writer)

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John Basset (17 November 1791 – 4 July 1843) was a writer on Cornish mining. He was deeply interested in Cornish mining, mining technology and economics.

Born at Illogan in Cornwall, he published an article in 1840On the machinery used for raising miners in the Harz, Report of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, 1840 (pp. 59–62). drawing attention to the devices called "Man Engines" for mechanically raising and lowering mine workers up and down the mine-shaft, replacing many yards of ladders. These devices were known to operate in the Harz Mountains in Germany. The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (which had published the paper), offered a prize for a version suitable for use in Cornish mines, which was won by Michael Loam.W. H. Tregellas, ‘Basset, John (1791–1843)’, rev. Philip Payton, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/1640 accessed 16 Nov 2007]

Basset was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1837, and MP for Helston in 1840–41.

He died at Boppard am Rhein, Germany, on 4 July 1843 aged 51.