The Société Cockerill's origins lie with William Cockerill, an English wool worker who initially went to Belgium in 1799 where he secured a contract to make machinery for weaving wool which proved a success. Later he and his three sons set up a workshop in Liege which the sons later moved to nearby Seraing. William retired in 1813 and in 1817 his son founded John Cockerill & Cie. The factory diversified into building steam -powered machinery and ammunition. From 1834 the Seraing factory increased in importance as it started producing iron in blast furnaces and building rails and the first locomotives built in Belgium. The factory became the leading industrial establishment in Belgium. John died in 1840, with no heir, and in 1842 the company became the Société pour l'Exploitation des Etablissements John Cockerill, shortened to Société Cockerill. In 1955 it became the Societe Anonyme Cockerill-Ougree.