British paper-makers, two brothers who brought to perfection the paper-making machine. They were born in London, Henry in 1766, and were stationers there, inheriting their father’s business. Early in the century, about 1804, they had established a mill in Hertfordshire, which they made an experimental workshop in perfecting the machine. They spent $300,000 in the work and became bankrupt. Others infringed their patents, and, though the government, in 1840, voted the brothers a compensation amounting to $35,000, Henry died in destitute circumstances. An annuity was purchased for his family by those engaged in the paper trade. The benefit derived from the introduction of their invention was estimated to amount to $2,500,000 annually. Henry died in 1854 and Sealy in 1847.
