Isaac Wilkinson (baptised 6 May 1695 - 31 January 1784) was an Englishindustrialist, one of the founders of the iron industry and pioneer of the Industrial Revolution. However, his business ethics were precarious and his commercial affairs frequently chaotic. He became much addicted to litigation.
Wilkinson was born in Washington, then in County Durham. He was the fifth child of John Wilkinson and his wife, Margaret Thompson. His mother died soon after his birth and his father in 1704, leaving him to be brought up by his elder brother John, a woolmerchant. He seems to have received some basic education before being apprenticed a foundryman, probably at the nearby Swalwell works. There, he established himself as a highly skilled iron-worker, able to demand high wages.[1]
Cumberland and Lancashireedit
Some time between 1721 and 1723, Wilkinson moved to Workington where he worked at the Little Cliftonfurnace which probably produced cast iron by smelting with coke. Here Wilkinson operated as a specialist subcontractor to the furnace. In 1735 he moved to Backbarrow furnace, which smelted with charcoal,[2] buying iron from the firm and selling his own produce. He was an influence on John Wilkinson his son.
In 1738 he patented a cast box smoothing-iron though it is suspected that he already knew that it was invalid owing to prior art. He went into production in partnership with his brother John but indulged in "creative accounting" to cheat his brother of the profits and the partnership folded. By now, Isaac was living in Cartmel, enjoying several business interests, including the Lowwood iron company. However, the Lowwood project ended in litigation when the weakness of his patent emerged and he accused the enterprise of poaching workers from his other enterprises.[1]
Walesedit
Bersham Ironworks
In 1753, Wilkinson moved south to Bersham, near Wrexham in Wales. There he operated a furnace, the Bersham Ironworks, with his son John, Edward Blakeway and others. Wilkinson developed the business while maintaining his own subcontracted casting business. Another patent in 1757 was for a blowing-engine for blast furnaces, using columns of water similar to the trempe system, though it is uncertain how effective it was. Blakeway was declared bankrupt in 1759, his shares passing to Mary Lee who married John Wilkinson in 1763. This gave the Wilkinsons control of Bersham and the business flourished. Isaac patented a novel moulding process in 1758. Isaac's personal subcontract business was a source of continued tensions. Litigation against his partners, including his son, had started as early as 1762, being exacerbated by the slump in Bersham's business following the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763 when demand for armaments dried up. Isaac moved to Bristol and John ended up as the owner of the Bersham works.[1]
Later lifeedit
Isaac became a foundryman in Bristol with involvement in the south Wales Dowlais Ironworks and Cyfarthfa Ironworks, and starting the Plymouth Ironworks with John Guest. Disputes with coal suppliers at Cyfarthfa led to further legal action but Isaac's finances were becoming precarious. From the 1770s he was involved in further litigation, including, again, against his son John.[1] He died in London,[1] and was buried at St Giles in the fields, Holborn, on 8 Feb 1784.[3]
Private lifeedit
Wilkinson was Presbyterian in religion. In 1727 he married Mary Johnson (died 1786) and they had seven children including:[1]
Chaloner, W. H. (1960) "Isaac Wilkinson, potfounder", in L. S. Presnell (ed.) Studies in the Industrial Revolution Presented to T. S. Ashton, London: Athlone Press
— (1963) "John Wilkinson, ironmaster (1728–1808)", in W. H. Chaloner, People and Industries, London: Frank Cass Publishers, ISBN0-7146-1284-7
Davies, A. S. (1949–51). "Isaac Wilkinson (c.1705–1784) of Bersham, ironmaster and inventor". Transactions of the Newcomen Society. 27: 69–72. doi:10.1179/tns.1949.007.
Harris, J. R. "Wilkinson, Isaac (bap. 1695, d. 1784)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/47483. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
January 01, 1970
isaac, wilkinson, baptised, 1695, january, 1784, english, industrialist, founders, iron, industry, pioneer, industrial, revolution, however, business, ethics, were, precarious, commercial, affairs, frequently, chaotic, became, much, addicted, litigation, conte. Isaac Wilkinson baptised 6 May 1695 31 January 1784 was an English industrialist one of the founders of the iron industry and pioneer of the Industrial Revolution However his business ethics were precarious and his commercial affairs frequently chaotic He became much addicted to litigation Contents 1 Early life 2 Cumberland and Lancashire 3 Wales 4 Later life 5 Private life 6 References 7 BibliographyEarly life editWilkinson was born in Washington then in County Durham He was the fifth child of John Wilkinson and his wife Margaret Thompson His mother died soon after his birth and his father in 1704 leaving him to be brought up by his elder brother John a wool merchant He seems to have received some basic education before being apprenticed a foundryman probably at the nearby Swalwell works There he established himself as a highly skilled iron worker able to demand high wages 1 Cumberland and Lancashire editSome time between 1721 and 1723 Wilkinson moved to Workington where he worked at the Little Clifton furnace which probably produced cast iron by smelting with coke Here Wilkinson operated as a specialist subcontractor to the furnace In 1735 he moved to Backbarrow furnace which smelted with charcoal 2 buying iron from the firm and selling his own produce He was an influence on John Wilkinson his son In 1738 he patented a cast box smoothing iron though it is suspected that he already knew that it was invalid owing to prior art He went into production in partnership with his brother John but indulged in creative accounting to cheat his brother of the profits and the partnership folded By now Isaac was living in Cartmel enjoying several business interests including the Lowwood iron company However the Lowwood project ended in litigation when the weakness of his patent emerged and he accused the enterprise of poaching workers from his other enterprises 1 Wales edit nbsp Bersham Ironworks In 1753 Wilkinson moved south to Bersham near Wrexham in Wales There he operated a furnace the Bersham Ironworks with his son John Edward Blakeway and others Wilkinson developed the business while maintaining his own subcontracted casting business Another patent in 1757 was for a blowing engine for blast furnaces using columns of water similar to the trempe system though it is uncertain how effective it was Blakeway was declared bankrupt in 1759 his shares passing to Mary Lee who married John Wilkinson in 1763 This gave the Wilkinsons control of Bersham and the business flourished Isaac patented a novel moulding process in 1758 Isaac s personal subcontract business was a source of continued tensions Litigation against his partners including his son had started as early as 1762 being exacerbated by the slump in Bersham s business following the end of the Seven Years War in 1763 when demand for armaments dried up Isaac moved to Bristol and John ended up as the owner of the Bersham works 1 Later life editIsaac became a foundryman in Bristol with involvement in the south Wales Dowlais Ironworks and Cyfarthfa Ironworks and starting the Plymouth Ironworks with John Guest Disputes with coal suppliers at Cyfarthfa led to further legal action but Isaac s finances were becoming precarious From the 1770s he was involved in further litigation including again against his son John 1 He died in London 1 and was buried at St Giles in the fields Holborn on 8 Feb 1784 3 Private life editWilkinson was Presbyterian in religion In 1727 he married Mary Johnson died 1786 and they had seven children including 1 John Wilkinson 1728 1808 Mary Wilkinson 1743 1796 who married Joseph Priestley and William Wilkinson 1744 1808 References edit a b c d e f Harris 2006 P Riden A gazetteer of the charcoal fired blast furnaces in Great Britain 2nd Edition Merton Priory Press Cardiff 1993 107 8 114 London Metropolitan ArchivesBibliography editChaloner W H 1960 Isaac Wilkinson potfounder in L S Presnell ed Studies in the Industrial Revolution Presented to T S Ashton London Athlone Press 1963 John Wilkinson ironmaster 1728 1808 in W H Chaloner People and Industries London Frank Cass Publishers ISBN 0 7146 1284 7 Davies A S 1949 51 Isaac Wilkinson c 1705 1784 of Bersham ironmaster and inventor Transactions of the Newcomen Society 27 69 72 doi 10 1179 tns 1949 007 Harris J R Wilkinson Isaac bap 1695 d 1784 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 47483 Subscription or UK public library membership required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isaac Wilkinson amp oldid 1120451439, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
