Browse Times
1784-1791
1784
Henry Cort developed the puddling process for manufacturing iron.
1785
Edmund Cartwright developed the power loom for weaving. Engines produced by Matthew Boulton and James Watt were first used to power spinning machines in cotton factories. William Withering’s Account of the Foxglove and some of its medicinal uses was published. Anna Seward’s poem Colebrookdale was published.
1786
James Watt developed the centrifugal governor.
1787
Josiah Wedgwood helped to form the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade and he produced his medallion Am I a Slave and a Brother for the campaign.
1788
John Whitehurst died.
1789
Thomas Day died in Surrey.
1791
Priestley Riots. Destruction of the homes of Priestley, Baskerville and the homes of Withering, Hutton, the Taylors and others.
Joseph Priestley left Birmingham. Rebuilding of Jewish synagogue in Hurst Street, Birmingham. Catholic chapels and schools were legalised. Opening of the world’s first Irvingite or Swedenborgian chapel in Birmingham.
Articles in this time period
Conclusion: Classical Order versus Romantic Nature
Virgil’s Tomb (1782), Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Oil on Canvas. Derby Museum & Art Gallery. Wright painted several… read more »
Cottage in Needwood Forest
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery
Cromford: A Factory Community
Image: Housing in North Street, Cromford, Derbyshire. Richard Arkwright built houses to attract people to work in his… read more »
Curiosities in Greene’s Museum
Image: “Miss Seward”. John Jackson, History of the City and Cathedral of Lichfield(London, 1805). Anna Seward, the Lichfield poet… read more »
Darwin, Priestley and Romantic Materialism
Image: Bridge through a Cavern, Moonlight (1791). Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797), Oil on Canvas. Derby Museum & Art Gallery.… read more »
Detail of Landscape with a Rainbow
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery
Directions for Married Persons: Introduction
Introduction: Malcolm Dick Source: Local Studies and History, Birmingham Central Library, UK Directions for Married Persons was written by John… read more »
Dr John Ash, M.D.
Image: Print of a portrait of Dr John Ash (1723-1798) from R K Dent, Old and New Birmingham: A… read more »
Enlightenment and Dissent: A Poem
By Roi Ankhkara Kwabena, Poet, Writer and Cultural Activist Roi was born in the Caribbean island of… read more »
Entrance to the Great Cavern at Castleton
This is an example of the type of limestone cavern that impressed visitors and potential visitors to… read more »
Epistle to Nathaniel Lister Esq. of Lichfield by Anna Seward
“[From “”Poetical Works of Anna Seward, Vol 2″”] [333] EPISTLE TO NATHANIEL LISTER, ESQ. OF LICHFIELD ON… read more »
Farrier
Source: The Complete Book of Trades, or the Parents Guide and Youth’s Instructor in the Choice of a… read more »
Fire in Rome
Originally called Fire in Rome, this image is probably one of Wright’s drawings of the Girandola firework… read more »
Floyer and Samuel Johnson
Image: Print of Samuel Johnson from John Jackson, History of the City and Cathedral of Lichfield (London, 1805). Image from: Local… read more »
Floyer and the Medical Importance of Bathing
Image: Stowe Pool, Lichfield from John Jackson, History of the City and Cathedral of Lichfield (London, 1805). In front of… read more »
Floyer’s Pioneering Medical Publications
Image: St John’s Hospital, Lichfield. Floyer based much of his evidence in his book, The Physician’s Pulse-Watch, from evidence… read more »
Frontispiece: View of Birmingham from Bordesley Fields, near the Coventry Road
Image from: William Hawkes Smith, Birmingham and its Vicinity as a Manufacturing and Commercial District (London and… read more »
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)
Illustrations of the Black Country Landscape
Though these 16 images date from the 1870s, they represent a long-established view of the Black Country,… read more »
Inland Navigation, An Ode. Humbly Inscribed to The Inhabitants of Birmingham, And Proprietors of the Canal
Image: Factors or Commercial Agents in Birmingham with a view of the Crescent and Wharf. J Bisset, Bisset’s Magnificent… read more »
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 »
Introduction: William Shenstone and the Leasowes
“…they observed a Gentleman in his own hair…the now celebrated Mr. Shenstone, whose place began to be… read more »
James Keir and the Geology and Industry of the Black Country: Mineralogy of the South-west part of Staffordshire, 1798
Image: The Wren’s Nest from The Black Country – Sixteen Etchings of Scenes in the Coal and Iron… 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 »
Labour and Genius: or, the Mill-stream, and the Cascade. A Fable
Image: View of Matthew Boulton’s Soho Manufactory in Handsworth near Birmingham. J Bisset, Bisset’s Magnificent Guide or Grand Copper Plate Directory… read more »
Landscape with a Rainbow
Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797). Image from: Derby Museum & Art Gallery
