George James Snelus FRS (25 June 1837 - 1906) was an English metallurgist, known to be the first to remove phosphorus from pig iron, by oxidizing it in a converter lined with basic refractory materials.
Facing difficulties to perform a reliable and cheap lining, he delayed further improvements and failed to find a practical solution, which was finally found by Sidney Gilchrist Thomas.
Snelus was born in Camden Town, London and educated at St John's College, Battersea.
[1] In 1871 he was commissioned by the Iron and Steel Institute to visit America and investigate a new process, the Danks system of puddling.
Whilst researching the process he discovered that phosphorus could be removed from molten iron by using lime as a furnace liner, a discovery he patented.