Publisher's Synopsis
Industrial Biography: Iron Workers and Tool Makers is a book written by Samuel Smiles, a Scottish author and government reformer. The book is a collection of biographies of famous iron workers and tool makers from the 18th and 19th centuries, including James Watt, Henry Maudslay, and John Wilkinson. Through these biographies, Smiles explores the history of the industrial revolution and the role that these individuals played in shaping it. He discusses their inventions and innovations, as well as the challenges they faced in their work and personal lives. The book also delves into the social and economic conditions of the time, including the rise of capitalism and the impact of industrialization on working-class communities. Smiles emphasizes the importance of hard work, perseverance, and innovation in achieving success, and he celebrates the ingenuity and creativity of the individuals he profiles. Overall, Industrial Biography: Iron Workers and Tool Makers is a fascinating look at the history of industry and innovation during a pivotal time in human history. It offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of the industrial revolution, and it celebrates the achievements of some of its most important figures.1883. From the Preface: The author offers the following book as a continuation, in a more generally accessible form, of the Series of Memoirs of Industrial Men introduced in his Lives of the Engineers. While preparing that work he frequently came across the tracks of celebrated inventors, mechanics, and ironworkers, the founders, in a great measure, of the modern industry of Britain, whose labors seemed to him well worthy of being traced out and placed on record, and the more so as their lives presented many points of curious and original interest. Contents: Iron and Civilization; Beginnings of the Iron Manufacture in Britain; Iron-Smelting by Pit-Coal-Dud Dudley; Andrew Yarranton; Coalbrookdale Iron-Works-The Darbys and Reynoldses; Invention of Cast-Steel-Benjamin Huntsman; The Inventions of Henry Cort; Henry Maudslay; Joseph Clement; Fox of Derby-Murray of Leeds-Roberts and Whitworth of Manchester; James Nasmyth; and William Fairbairn.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
