Inventors and Entrepreneurs of the Industrial Revolution
edmund-cartwrightEdmund Cartwright (1743-1823) – English inventor, and member of the Anglican clergy. Cartwright invented the power loom which significantly increased the efficiency of textile production. He also developed a wool combing machine.
robert-owenRobert Owen (1771 – 1858) – Welsh social reformer who attempted to build a utopian socialist and co-operative movement. Owen sought to consider the welfare of his workers, something usually overlooked in the industrial revolution.
humphrey-davySir Humphrey Davy (1778 – 1829) – English chemist and inventor. He invented the Davy lamp used by miners to help detect gas and improve safety. He also discovered several alkaline earth metals and discovered more about the chemical properties of chlorine and iodine.
George Stephenson (1781 – 1848) Mechanical engineer, who developed the steam engine for use in trains. He was a key figure in building the 25 mile Stockton and Darlington railway. Stephenson also built the first intercity railway between Liverpool and Manchester – ushering in the ‘railway age’.
joseph-lockeJoseph Locke (1805 – 1860) English civil engineer. Locke was an important railway pioneer. He built the Grand Junction Railway which connected the Liverpool railway to Crewe and Birmingham. He developed new techniques for laying rails and was considered better at finishing projects than Stephenson.
britishIsambard Kingdom Brunel (1806 – 1859) English engineer. Brunel was at the heart of many of the key building projects of the British industrial revolution. He built the Great Western Railway from Bristol to London and also developed powerful steamships. He also built the first tunnel under a navigable river.
henry-bessemerSir Henry Bessemer (1813 – 1898) an English engineer, inventor, and businessman. Bessemer’s greatest contribution was to the mass production of steel, which was a key component of the second wave of the industrial revolution.
It affected the other country's because the Americans did not need as many foreign goods.
