John C. Hebden Biography
by Robert J. Baptista
February 25, 2005
by Robert J. Baptista
February 25, 2005
John Calder Hebden was born in Colgate, Wisconsin December 22, 1862, the son of John and Mary Calder Hebden. He
graduated from Mount Pleasant Academy, Providence, Rhode Island and in 1885 from Brown University, where he received a A.B.
degree.
From 1885 to 1887, Hebden was employed as chemist and dyer by the National and Providence Worsted Mills and the Silver
Spring Bleachery. For the next seven years he was resident agent, technician and chemist for the William J. Matheson & Co. and
the Cassella Color Company.
He married Lucie A. Mann on November 2, 1898 and they had one daughter, Ruth Dunham.
In 1901-1903, he did post-graduate work at Brown University. During 1904-1909, he was a chemist for A. Klipstein & Co. He
became vice-president of F.E. Atteaux & Co. in 1909, and then joined the Franklin Process Company. At this company, Hebden
was vice president and general manager during 1910-1913. Working with Frederick Daniels, he co-invented the "Franklin
Process", which involved dyeing yarns in package form, under pressure in a closed kier, in a highly concentrated dye bath.
Hebden was named vice president and general manager of the Federal Dyestuff and Chemical Corporation, Kingsport,
Tennessee, in 1915. The company experienced financial problems and Hebden left in 1917. He then served as president and
general manager of the Dyeing Processes Corporation and later was vice president of the Hebden Sugar Process Corporation.
He also practiced as a consulting chemist and chemical engineer.
After his first wife died, he married Gertrude S. Beard on October 8, 1919.
Hebden , a Director of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers 1914-1916, was considered an expert in explosives.
He was consulted about the type of bomb that anarchists exploded on Wall St. September 16, 1920, which caused 35 deaths
and hundreds of injuries. Hebden concluded that the bomb contained 100-200 pounds of a mixture of TNT and picric acid.
He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Society of the Chemical
Industry, the Society of American Military Engineers, the Societe de la Chimie Industrie of France, the Chemists' Club of New York
and the University Club of Providence.
Hebden's home was at 807 Ridge Boulevard, Brooklyn, and his office at 53 East Forty-first Street, Manhattan. He died on June 3,
1929 after an illness of six weeks.
References:
1) "John C. Hebden Dies in Providence", American Dyestuff Reporter, Vol. 18, No. 10, June 10, 1929, p. 399
2) Who Was Who in America, Vol. I, 1897-1942, Marquis Who's Who Inc., Chicago, p. 544
graduated from Mount Pleasant Academy, Providence, Rhode Island and in 1885 from Brown University, where he received a A.B.
degree.
From 1885 to 1887, Hebden was employed as chemist and dyer by the National and Providence Worsted Mills and the Silver
Spring Bleachery. For the next seven years he was resident agent, technician and chemist for the William J. Matheson & Co. and
the Cassella Color Company.
He married Lucie A. Mann on November 2, 1898 and they had one daughter, Ruth Dunham.
In 1901-1903, he did post-graduate work at Brown University. During 1904-1909, he was a chemist for A. Klipstein & Co. He
became vice-president of F.E. Atteaux & Co. in 1909, and then joined the Franklin Process Company. At this company, Hebden
was vice president and general manager during 1910-1913. Working with Frederick Daniels, he co-invented the "Franklin
Process", which involved dyeing yarns in package form, under pressure in a closed kier, in a highly concentrated dye bath.
Hebden was named vice president and general manager of the Federal Dyestuff and Chemical Corporation, Kingsport,
Tennessee, in 1915. The company experienced financial problems and Hebden left in 1917. He then served as president and
general manager of the Dyeing Processes Corporation and later was vice president of the Hebden Sugar Process Corporation.
He also practiced as a consulting chemist and chemical engineer.
After his first wife died, he married Gertrude S. Beard on October 8, 1919.
Hebden , a Director of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers 1914-1916, was considered an expert in explosives.
He was consulted about the type of bomb that anarchists exploded on Wall St. September 16, 1920, which caused 35 deaths
and hundreds of injuries. Hebden concluded that the bomb contained 100-200 pounds of a mixture of TNT and picric acid.
He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Society of the Chemical
Industry, the Society of American Military Engineers, the Societe de la Chimie Industrie of France, the Chemists' Club of New York
and the University Club of Providence.
Hebden's home was at 807 Ridge Boulevard, Brooklyn, and his office at 53 East Forty-first Street, Manhattan. He died on June 3,
1929 after an illness of six weeks.
References:
1) "John C. Hebden Dies in Providence", American Dyestuff Reporter, Vol. 18, No. 10, June 10, 1929, p. 399
2) Who Was Who in America, Vol. I, 1897-1942, Marquis Who's Who Inc., Chicago, p. 544
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John C. Hebden Biography
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