Boyden, Seth

Boyden, Seth (1788-1870), an American inventor, developed a type of patent leather in 1819 and a process for making malleable iron in 1826. His developments marked the beginning of these industries in the United States. He also invented in his Newark, New Jersey, shop a furnace grate for producing zinc oxide and a forming machine for making hats. Boyden was born at Foxborough, Massachusetts.