Jean-Jacques Dony

Jean-Jacques Daniël Dony (24 February 1759 – 6 November 1819) was an inventor and industrialist. He invented a procedure for the production of pure zinc, and opened a mine in Moresnet.

Jean-Jacques Dony
Born
Jean-Jacques Daniël Dony

(1759-02-24)24 February 1759
Liège, Austrian Netherlands (now: Belgium)
Died6 November 1819(1819-11-06) (aged 60)
Bois-l'Évêque, Normandy, France
Occupation(s)Inventor, industrialist

Biography

Dony was born on 24 February 1759 in Liège. He studied to become a priest, but in 1797 took over his father's business as a cattle transporter.[1]

Dony invented a procedure for the industrial production of totally pure zinc.[2] In 1806, Napoleon granted him a monopoly for the exploitation of the zinc mines of Moresnet,[3] now in Liège Province, Belgium. The mines were successful, and his company became Europe's largest producer of zinc.[4] These mines continued operating until 1880.[1]

From the exploitation of the Moresnet mines rose the 'Vieille Montagne Association' (French for Old Mountain), which later expanded its operations abroad (to France, Germany and Sweden (Zinkgruvan) among others).[4] The activities of the association of the Old Mountain were taken over in 1989 by the Union Minière (Mining Union) group, which is known since 2001 as Umicore.[5][6]

In 1809, Dony opened a factory in Liège, but ran into financial difficulties, and was forced to sell 75% of his stocks. In 1819, he was declared bankrupt, and died in Bois-l'Évêque on 6 November 1819, at the age of 60.[1]

References
  1. "Jean-Jacques-Daniël Dony". Periodiek Systeem (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  2. Guy Depas (5 July 1997). "LA BAIGNOIRE DE NAPOLEON EN VEDETTE A LIEGE... UN ZINC A LA MAISON DE METAL". Le Soir (in French). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. Duvergier, Jean Baptiste (1836). Collection complète des lois, décrets, ordonnances, règlemens avis du Conseil d'état, publiée sur les éditions officielles du Louvre: de l'Imprimerie nationale, par Baudouin; et du Bulletin des lois; (de 1788 à 1830 inclusivement . (in French). A. Guyot et Scribe.
  4. "The Vieille Montagne Zinc Mining Company - World Sites". Alston Moor Historical Society. 9 December 2021.
  5. "Beleggers verzetten zich tegen bod op Maastrichtse Zinkwit". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 12 September 1989.
  6. "Case: Umicore 2001". Corporate Brand Matrix. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
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