As the Kentucky Historical Society incoherently relates, in their description of the Kentucky Landmark, “Kelly Kettle” :
One of many kettles made in this area by William Kelly, used for making sugar down South. In 1851, Kelly discovered process, known as Bessemer, for manufacture of steel. An Englishman, Bessemer, obtained patents on same process in England 1855 and in U.S. 1856. Kelly filed priority claim, 1857. U.S. awarded patent to Kelly and later refused renewal to Bessemer.
... the thing is, Big Steel sided with Bessemer, so the law was on the losing side of history along with Kelly. I recall reading or hearing that Kelly claimed that Bessemer visited his furnace sites in disguise and stole his process, and that there is some basis for believing Kelly’s claim.
Everything you know is wrong! Dogs came from the stars! The Aztecs invented the vacation! The brain is not the boss! All I know is everything YOU know is WRONG!
Sir Henry Bessemer F.R.S an autobiography
http://www.history.rochester.edu/ehp-book/shb/start.htm
A good read and the bronze powder chapter was the best.
Are you Sirius?