William Frishmuth
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'''William Frishmuth''' ([[April 22]], [[1830]]-[[August 1]], [[1893]]) was a German-born American architect and metallurgist.
William Frishmuth was born Johan Wilhelm Gottfreid Frishmuth in [[Coburg, Germany]] in [[1830]]. [[Aluminum]] is a metal not found in a pure state in nature. The first patent for refining aluminum by electrolysis was granted to [[Friedrich Wöhler]] of Germany. Frishmuth studied with Wohler in Germany before coming to America.
In [[1855]] he settled in [[Philadelphia]] and became a citizen of the United States of America. He established the Frishmuth Foundry in Philadelphia, an aluminum [[foundry]]; believed to be the only aluminum foundry in the United States at the time.
In [[1861]] Frishmuth became a special secret agent to the [[United States Department of War|War Department]] at the request of [[Abraham Lincoln]]. On the 5th of November, 1861, he received authority from President Lincoln, which was confirmed by [[Andrew Gregg Curtin|Governor Curtin]] of Pennsylvania to raise a cavalry regiment. In [[1862]] the regiment was raised for active service, and was commissioned a Colonel. He was Colonel of the 113th Regiment, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry (Curtin Hussars) until [[April 20]], [[1862]].
In [[1876]] he produced the first authenticated aluminum castings made in America at his Philadelphia foundry (now an historic landmark)[http://www.asminternational.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Membership/AwardsProgram/HistoricalLandmarks/Landmarks.htm.] He used a chemical process, unlike the electrolytic processes used today. One of the first casting he produced was an engineer's transit. The foundry was declared an ASM ([[American Society for Materials]]) Historical Landmark in [[1985]].
Because Frishmuth had previously done plating work for the [[Washington Monument]] the Army Corp of Engineers asked Frishmuth to construct a small metal form for the top of the monument. The small pyramid was to be functional and artistic. The function was to act as the terminus of a [[lightning rod]] to prevent storm damage to the monument. Frishmuth suggested that aluminum would be a good choice, as it would be a white metal that would blend well with the granite color of the monument, would not produce a stain through corrosion, and would polish well and be engraved with inscriptions.
In [[1884]] he cast the aluminum cap of the Washington Monument. This was the first architectural application of aluminum. At that time aluminum was $1.00 per avoirdupois [[ounce]]. For perspective, silver was $1.30 per troy ounce ($1.18 per avoirdupois ounce); 100 ounces (about 2.8 kg) of aluminum were needed to produce the pyramid.
Through his lifetime, Frishmuth received 12 patents, mostly on [[electroplating]] and production of aluminum.
On [[August 1]], [[1893]] he was found dead in his home in Philadelphia from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Annually, the (AFS) [[American Foundry Society]] presents the "Frishmuth Award" honoring the "Foundryman of the Year".
==External links==
*[http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9511/Binczewski-9511.html A History of the Aluminum Cap of the Washington Monument]
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[[Category:1830 births]]
[[Category:1893 deaths]]
[[Category:Metallurgists]]
[[Category:Foundrymen]]
[[Category:People from Coburg]]
[[fr:William Frishmuth]]