Charles Martin Hall

Charles Martin Hall was an American chemist and inventor who, in 1886, developed a more efficient and cost-effective method to extract aluminum from its ore. His breakthrough process, known as the Hall-Héroult process (co-developed with Paul Héroult), revolutionized aluminum production by enabling large-scale manufacturing. Before this, aluminum was rare and expensive; afterward, it became widely used in industries like transportation and packaging. Hall’s innovation significantly lowered costs and expanded aluminum’s applications, making it a vital material in modern life.