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Description: | The local industrialist John Wilkinson (1728-1808) or "Iron mad Wilkinson" was one of the central figures of the Industrial Revolution. Probably more than any other single individual he was responsible for the rapid industrialisation of the Black Country in the late 18th century. In 1767 he built the first steam-powered blast furnace at the Bradley Ironworks, Bilston. In 1774 he invented a cannon-boring machine, probably his most important invention, which enabled accurate cylinders to be created suitable for the high specifications of Watt's steam engine. He also owned iron works at Broseley, near Coalbrookdale and North Wales. Wilkinson contributed to the construction of the world's first iron bridge, which was built at Coalbrookdale in 1779 and designed the first iron boat. He was a close friend of James Watt and other industrialists in Birmingham, the Black Country and Shropshire. His sister, Mary, married Joseph Priestley. Wilkinson pioneered new uses of iron and contributed to the developing engineering industry in the Midlands. When he died in 1808, he was appropriately buried in an iron coffin.
Nicknamed 'Iron Mad', John Wilkinson was one of the great figures of the early iron industry. Born in Cumberland, he moved to Coalbrokdale in about 1753. In 1754 or 1755 he married Ann Madsley (died 1756). Wilkinson moved to Bradley, Bilston, in 1766, purchasing land on which to build his 'Mother Furnace'. The abundance of coal, limestone and iron ore to be found in the area probably influenced his decision to choose Bradley. When he died in 1808 he was buried in an iron coffin which was placed in a cast iron tomb which he had designed and built himself.
Oil painting portrait of John Wilkinson, with light highlighting the yellow gold of his hair and the pink of his nose and cheeks. Dressed in a dark suit he rests his hand through his waistcoat, showing a glimpse of a white cuff and a small part of his hand. | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/ | Publisher: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Rights holder: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Subjects: | Black Country Fine arts Oil painting Oil Paintings Georgian period Art collections | Temporal: | 1700 - 1799
Georgian (1714-1837) | Source: | Black Country History | Creator: | Unknown | Identifier: | http://www.blackcountryhistory.org/colle... | Go to resource |
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