John Wilkinson (industrialist)

John Wilkinson
Born1728 (1728)
Died14 July 1808(1808-07-14) (aged 79–80)
Resting placeLindale Church, Lindale-in-Cartmel, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Ironmaster, Entrepreneur, builder of first iron boat, partner in world's first iron bridge
Websitebroseley.org.uk

John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson (1728 – 14 July 1808) was an English industrialist who pioneered the manufacture of cast iron and the use of cast-iron goods during the Industrial Revolution. He was the inventor of a precision boring machine that could bore cast iron cylinders, such as cannon barrels [1] and piston cylinders used in the steam engines of James Watt. His boring machine has been called the first machine tool. He also developed a blowing device for blast furnaces that allowed higher temperatures, increasing their efficiency, and helped sponsor the first iron bridge in Coalbrookdale. He is notable for his method of cannon boring, his techniques at casting iron and his work with the government of France to establish a cannon foundry.[2]

  1. ^ NAM Rodger 'The Command Of The Ocean' Penguin 2004, p.377
  2. ^ Chaloner, 1951.