Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pellatt, Apsley
PELLATT, APSLEY (1791–1863), glass manufacturer, eldest son of Apsley Pellatt, and of Mary, daughter of Stephen Maberly of Reading, was born on 27 Nov. 1791, probably at 80 High Holborn, London, where his father kept a glass warehouse. The elder Pellatt removed his business subsequently to St. Paul's Churchyard, and then to the Falcon Glass works, Holland Street, Southwark. He was the inventor of the glass lenses, known as ‘deck lights,’ used for giving light to the lower parts of ships, for which he obtained a patent in 1807 (No. 3058). He died on 21 Jan. 1826 (Gent. Mag. 1826 i. 187).
The younger Pellatt was educated by Dr. Wanostrocht at Camberwell, and joined his father in business. In 1819 he took out a patent (No. 4424) for ‘crystallo-ceramie or glass incrustation,’ which consisted in enclosing medallions or ornaments of pottery ware, metal, or refractory material in glass, by which very beautiful ornamental effects were produced. The new process was described by the inventor with illustrations in his ‘Memoir on the Origin, Progress, and Improvement of Glass Manufactures,’ London, 1821. It does not appear to have been his own invention, as it is stated in the patent that it was communicated to him by a foreigner residing abroad, whose name, however, is not given (ib. 1821, i. 70). He took out a patent in 1831 (No. 6091) for improvements in the manufacture of pressed glass articles, and another in 1845 (No. 10669), with his brother Frederick, for improvements in the composition of glass, and in the methods of blowing, pressing, and casting glass articles. Under his care the products of the Falcon glass works attained a high reputation both for quality and artistic design. He devoted much time to the investigation of the principles of glass-making both in ancient and modern times, and he became a high authority upon the subject. He published in 1849 ‘Curiosities of Glass Making,’ in which the results of his researches are embodied. He was assisted in this work by John Timbs [q. v.] He was one of the jurors at the exhibition of 1862, and wrote the report on the glass manufactures shown on that occasion.
Pellatt was elected an associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1838, and in 1840 he became a member of the council. He contributed in 1838 and 1840 papers on the manufacture of glass, which are printed in the ‘Proceedings,’ and he was a frequent speaker at the meetings of the institution.
Besides his work as a glass-maker, Pellatt took a considerable share in public affairs, and was for many years a member of the common council of the city of London. He was largely instrumental in securing the admission of Jews to the freedom of the city, and embodied his views in a pamphlet, published in 1826, entitled ‘A Brief Memoir of the Jews in relation to their Civil and Municipal Disabilities.’ In 1832 he gave evidence before the select committee of the House of Commons on Sunday observance, with reference to Farringdon Market. This was afterwards printed separately. He represented Southwark in parliament from July 1852 until the general election in March 1857, when he was rejected in favour of Admiral Sir Charles Napier, and he was again unsuccessful in 1859. He was a frequent speaker in the house, and he introduced a bill for facilitating dissenters' marriages in 1854, 1855, and 1856. In 1856 he brought in a bill to define the law as to crossed cheques, which was passed (19 & 20 Vict. cap. 25). He was a prominent member of the congregational body (cf. Nonconformist, 22 April 1863, p. 309).
Pellatt was twice married, first, in 1814, to Sophronia, daughter of George Kemp of Reading (she died in February 1815); secondly, in 1816, to Margaret Elizabeth, daughter of George Evans of Balham, who survived him. He left three daughters, his only son having died about 1839. His death took place at Balham on 17 April 1863.
[Authorities cited and obituary notices in Times, 20 April 1863, p. 12; Illustrated London News, 16 May 1863, p. 546; Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, xxiii. 511; information communicated by his daughter, Mrs. Rickman, of Addlestone.]