Holley, Alexander Lyman (1832–1882)

US mechanical engineer and metallurgist. He published Holley's Railroad Advocate 1855–57, and wrote many technical articles (usually under the name ‘Tubal Cain’). In 1863 he went to England to purchase the US rights to the Bessemer steel-making process, and then supervised construction of the first such US plant at Troy, New York. For his work in engineering other steel plants, he became known as ‘the father of modern American steel manufacture’ and his statue was placed in New York's Washington Square.

He was born in Lakeville, Connecticut. While still in college he devised improvements for steam locomotives, after which he worked in several locomotive plants.