Browse Times
1776-1783
1776
Erection of the first two Watt engines at Broseley and Tipton.
1777
Arrival of William Murdock in Birmingham.
1778
The Trent and Mersey Canal was opened to traffic.
The Catholic Relief Act enabled Catholics to register their places of worship.
1779
Opening of Birmingham’s General Hospital.
Establishment of the Birmingham Library.
Construction of the Ironbridge by Abraham Derby III spanning the River Severn at Coalbrookdale.
Samuel Crompton developed the Spinning Mule combining features of the Spinning Jenny and Water Frame for cotton spinning.
James Keir patented Muntz Metal, which could be forged or wrought when it was cold as well as red-hot.
Founding of the Derby Philosophical Society.
1780
Joseph Priestley settled in Birmingham.
Gordon Riots in London.
James Keir discovered the distinction between carboin acid gas and atmospheric air. He set up a chemical works at Tipton in the same year.
Erasmus Darwin met Samuel Galton junior
1781
The population of Birmingham reached 50,000 making it the second largest English town.
Erasmus Darwin left Lichfield for Derbyshire.
Richard Arkwright built a cotton mill at Rocester near the River Dove.
The New Hall Porcelain Company in Derby began to produce commercially successful porcelain.
James Watt developed his rotary motion.
1782
Josiah Wedgwood ordered a Boulton and Watt engine produced by Matthew Boulton and James Watt to drive a clay mill and colour-grinding mill. Etruria was the first factory to install a rotary steam engine. James Watt developed his double-acting engine.
1783
James Watt patented a rotary steam engine.
The Treaty of Paris ended the American War of Independence and Britain recognised the independence of the USA.
Publication of Thomas Day’s Sandford and Merton.
Articles in this time period
Girandola with St Peter’s Rome (1774/5)
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Sepia wash with brown ink. Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery This… read more »
Gunpowder Joe: Priestley’s Religious Radicalism
Image: Cartoon: The Friends of the People, showing Joseph Priestley on the left Image from: Birmingham City Archives, Priestley… read more »
Handloom Weaving
Image: Carpet Weaver. N Whittock et al, The Complete Book of Trades (London, Marshall and Co., 1837). The image shows… read more »
Holt Castle on the banks of the Severn
From Picturesque Views of the Severn, 1824 by Thomas Harral
Home of Robert Darwin, and birthplace of Charles Darwin
Photograph by: Nabi Heydari (April 2003)
Introduction
Image: Print of Joseph Priestley Image from: Birmingham City Archives, Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins Two hundred years ago,… read more »
Introduction
Image: Portrait of Joseph Priestley. Image from: Birmingham City Archives, Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins Joseph Priestley’s importance as… read more »
Introduction: Between Enlightenment and Romanticism
Alchymist in Search of the Philosopher’s Stone, (exhibited 1775, reworked 1795). Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Oil on… read more »
Introduction: Interpretations
The “Priestley” Riots of July 1791 are one of the best-documented episodes in Birmingham history. The initial… read more »
John Whitehurst and 18th Century Geology
John Whitehurst (1713-1788) was the oldest member of the Lunar Society. Born in Congleton in Cheshire he moved… read more »
Joseph Priestley: Trail-blazing Experimenter
Image: Print of Joseph Priestley, 1782, showing examples of scientific equipment beneath the portrait. Image from: Joseph Priestley Collection… read more »
Joseph Wright of Derby and his Visit to Italy 1773 – 1775
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Eruption of Mount Vesuvius (1774). Gouache on paper. Image from: Derby Museum &… read more »
Joseph Wright of Derby: Art, the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Self Portrait in a Black Feathered Hat(c1767-1770). Oil on canvas. Summary Joseph Wright… read more »
Joseph Wright’s Journey to Italy
Image: Joseph Wright of Derby (1734- 1797), Self Portrait (c1767-70). Charcoal on paper. Image from: Derby Museum… read more »
Kidderminster
KIDDERMINSTER IS a large trading town, having a very considerable manufacture of stuffs and some cotton. It… read more »
Landscape with a Rainbow
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery
Letter from Charles Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1777/01/13
Charles Darwin was Dr. Darwin’s son and studied medicine at Edinburgh University. Dr. Joseph Black was a… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1778
Directions to Mr Boulton for making a Tea Vase. Friend Boulton take these ingots fine From rich… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1778
Darwin writes to Boulton about an order he placed for a selection of prints by the popular… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1778/01/11
Darwin gives his opinion on the poetry of a young lady of Boulton’s acquaintance. —————————————- 11 January… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1778/02/04
Darwin enquires after the Kauffmann prints. —————————————- Dear Boulton, Not having heard of you for so many… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1778/04/05
Darwin sends his apologies to Boulton for being absent from a Lunar Society meeting with a lively… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1778/04/21
Darwin again enquires after the Kauffmann prints he asked to be framed at Soho. —————————————- Dear Boulton… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1782/12/26
Darwin writes to Boulton requesting repayment of a loan. He also speaks of his regret at no… read more »
Letter from Erasmus Darwin to Matthew Boulton, 1783/03/04
Darwin tells Boulton he has become involved with founding a philosophical society at Derby and encourages Boulton… read more »
Maria and her dog Silvio (from Sterne’s Sentimental Journey)
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Oil on Canvas. Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery
Masson Mill and the River Derwent, Matlock Bath near Cromford, Derbyshire
The picture shows the rural landscape in which many 18th century factories were located. The Derwent Valley… read more »
Matthew Boulton and Birmingham Silverware in the late 18th and early 19th centuries
Image: The painted sign for the King’s Head Inn, New Street, Birmingham showing the Head of George III.… read more »
Matthew Boulton and Silver Making
Image: Sweetmeat Basket, Boulton & Fothergill, 1774 This basket was possibly designed by Robert Adam. The body is… read more »
Matthew Boulton’s Medals and Coins on Russian Subjects
Image: Medallion of the Hudson’s Bay Company. 1820. Designed by Conrad Heinrich Kuchler. An example of the high… read more »
Medals and Coins of Alexander I
Image: Medallion of Alexander I, Emperor of all the Russias. 1812. Image from: Birmingham Assay Office (256) The coronation… read more »
Mill and Warehouse Building, Cromford, Derbyshire
This five-storey building was built in 1785 to 1790. The four upper floors contained machinery for spinning.… read more »
Pair of shoe buckles
These silver buckles have an embossed design and are fitted with steel latchets or fasteners.
Papermaking
Image: Paper Maker, from The Book of Trades or Library of Useful Arts, part III, third edition (London Tabart… read more »
Pastoral Group, c.1770
The group with a shepherd playing his pipe to a sleeping shepherdess is a good example of… read more »
