John Cockerill (company, 1825–1955)
John Cockerill & Cie. was a Belgian iron, steel, and manufacturing company based at Seraing in Liège Province. It was founded in 1825 by English-born industrialist John Cockerill.
Poster for SA John Cockerill, c. 1928 | |
| Industry | Heavy industry |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1825 (incorporated) |
| Founder | John Cockerill |
| Fate | Bought by the state in 1842 |
| Successors | 1842: SA John Cockerill 1955: SA Cockerill-Ougrée |
| Headquarters | Seraing , Belgium |
John Cockerill, a son of British entrepreneur William Cockerill, owned the company, and it was known as John Cockerill & Cie. However, John Cockerill died in Warsaw in 1840 after a business trip to Russia. Following his death, the company became state owned, and in 1842, it became known as the Société anonyme pour l'exploitation des établissements de John Cockerill.
The company was one of the major iron and steel producers in western Europe throughout its existence. It was a significant producer of derived products, including rail and railway locomotives, iron production equipment, and other large-scale iron and steel constructions.
In 1955, the company merged with Ougrée-Marihaye to form SA Cockerill-Ougrée. In 1981, it merged with Hainaut-Sambre to form Cockerill-Sambre.