Joachim Gans

Joachim Gans (other spellings: Jeochim, Jochim, Gaunz, Ganse, Gaunse; fl. 1581 – 1589) was a Bohemian mining expert, renowned for being the first Jew in North America.

Biography

Early life Gans was born in Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia to Ashkenazi Jewish parents, and likely related to David Gans, who settled there in 1564.

England He is first mentioned in his professional capacity at Keswick, Cumberland, in 1581. He worked at the Newlands mine managed by Richard Dudley and implemented some technologies outlined by Lazarus Ercker.

Gans introduced a new process for the "making of Copper, vitriall, and Coppris, and smeltinge of Copper and leade ures". Gans figured in the English state papers of the reign of Elizabeth I which include a full description of his operations written by a colleague George Nedham. although others have suggested Joabin is named after Joab, the commander of King David's army and David's co-conspirator in Uriah the Hittite's death.