EARLS AND MARQUESSES OF

HUNTLY  . This Scottish title, in the Gordon family, dates as to the earldom from 1449, HUNTLY-HUNYADI, JANOS 955 of the steel then available for his products seriously hampered him, he began to experiment in steel-manufacture, first at Doncaster, and subsequently at Handsworth, near Sheffield, whither he removed in 1740 to secure cheaper fuel for his furnaces . After several years' trials he at last produced a satisfactory cast steel, purer and harder than any steel then in use . The Sheffield cutlery manufacturers, however, refused to buy it, on the ground that it was too hard, and for a long time Huntsman exported his whole output to France . The growing competition of imported French cutlery made from Huntsman's cast-steel at length alarmed the Sheffield cutlers, who, after vainly endeavouring to get the exportation of the steel prohibited by the British government, were compelled in self-defence to use it . Huntsman had not patented his process, and its secret was discovered by a Sheffield ironfounder, who, according to a popular story, obtained ad-mission to Huntsman's works in the disguise of a tramp . Benjamin Huntsman died in 1776, his business being subsequently greatly developed by his son, William Huntsman (1733-1809) . See Smiles, Industrial Biography (1879) .