1855
1855 is the year the Bessemer process was first described publicly.
- Odd
- Composite
Where 1855 fits
Why 1855 is special
Bessemer's paper was received with interest and his licensees failed to reproduce the results, because the process only works with ores low in phosphorus. Solving that took another twenty years.
1855 is part of
Factors & digit properties
- Divisors (8)
- 1, 5, 7, 35, 53, 265, 371, 1855
- Prime factorisation
- 5 × 7 × 53
- Digit sum
- 19
- Digital root
- 1
Representations
- Decimal
- 1855
- Scientific notation
- 1.855 × 10^3
Roman numerals
M D C C C L V
Binary
1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 × 1,024 + 1 × 512 + 1 × 256 + 0 × 128 + 0 × 64 + 1 × 32 + 1 × 16 + 1 × 8 + 1 × 4 + 1 × 2 + 1 × 1 = 1,855
Octal
3 4 7 7
3 × 512 + 4 × 64 + 7 × 8 + 7 × 1 = 1,855
Hexadecimal
7 3 f
7 × 256 + 3 × 16 + f × 1 = 1,855
Read as powers of two: 1,024 + 512 + 256 + 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 1,855.
In historical numeral systems
Egyptian
1 lotus, 8 coils of rope, 5 hobbles, 5 strokes
1 × 1,000 + 8 × 100 + 5 × 10 + 5 × 1 = 1,855. The signs are simply repeated and added; where they sit on the line is a matter of layout, not value.
Babylonian
3 corner wedges (sixties place), 5 corner wedges + 5 vertical wedges (units place)
30 × 60 + 55 = 1855. Places are separated by a space on the tablet, with the higher place written first.
Systems that simply cannot reach this value are left out. Where a script needs a font most readers do not have, the reading is given instead of the glyphs — see number systems for each system in full.
Other mathematical patterns
- Deficient number
Related numbers & connections
1855 is a year in the 19th century, in the 1850s.
Bessemer described his process publicly in 1855 and licensees could not reproduce it, because it works only with low-phosphorus ore. The general solution took another twenty years.
View 1856 →Numbers Around Us
- appears inHistorical years
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
Other connections
- developed from1856
why?
Strength 0.50, confidence "high".
Technology & computing
In 1855, Henry Bessemer patented a process for making steel cheaply in bulk by blowing air through molten iron (England).
DocumentedTechnology & computingGeography: EnglandPeriod: 1855Bessemer's converter worked on the ore he had used and failed for licensees using phosphoric ores. The gap between demonstration and general applicability took two decades and another inventor to close.
DocumentedTechnology & computingGeography: EnglandPeriod: 1855
Common questions
Is 1855 a prime number?
No, 1855 is not prime.
What are the factors of 1855?
The factors of 1855 are 1, 5, 7, 35, 53, 265, 371, 1855.
What is 1855 in Roman numerals?
1855 in Roman numerals is MDCCCLV.
About this page's data
Mathematical facts:computed directly from the number's value — nothing to source or verify externally.
Contextual records: 2 reviewer-confirmed records, sourced and reviewed before publication.
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026