Edward Heylyn facts for kids

Edward Heylyn (born in 1695, died April 10, 1765) was a clever businessman and merchant. He is best known as one of the people who started the famous Bow porcelain factory in London.

Who Was Edward Heylyn?

Edward Heylyn came from a family with roots in North Wales. His father, John Heylyn, was a saddler in London. A saddler makes and sells saddles for horses. It's said that his father made a lot of money by providing saddles for the army of the Duke of Marlborough. Edward's mother was Susanna Sherman.

Early Life and Family

Edward was the third son in his family. His older brother, Dr. John Heylyn, was a well-known preacher. People called him "The Mystic Doctor." He was also a important church leader at Westminster Abbey. Edward was born in Westminster, a part of London.

A Life in Business

Edward Heylyn was very active in different businesses. He worked in both London and Bristol. In October 1718, he became a "freeman" of the Worshipful Company of Saddlers in London. Being a freeman meant he was a full member of this important group of saddlers. Later, in 1731, he became a freeman of the city of Bristol. There, he was known as a clothier, someone who deals with cloth and fabrics. His nephew, John, who was his brother's son, also worked in business in Bristol.

From Saddles to Glass

Edward's business journey had its ups and downs. Sometimes his businesses faced difficulties. By 1741, he started working with glass. He had a glass-making workshop in Bromley, Middlesex. This experience with glass might have led him to his next big adventure.

Founding Bow Porcelain

On December 6, 1744, Edward Heylyn was named on a special document called a "patent." A patent gives someone the sole right to make or sell an invention for a certain period. This patent was for the Bow porcelain factory. He started this factory with a partner named Thomas Frye. Edward might have met Frye through his uncle, Thomas Sherman, who was the head of the Saddlers Company. His uncle had helped Frye get some work in the past.

The Bow porcelain factory used a special type of clay called Unaker. This clay was shipped all the way from North Carolina. Edward's brother, Henry Heylyn, had business interests in North Carolina, which might explain how they found this clay.

Later Years and Legacy

Even though Edward's name wasn't on later patents for the Bow factory, he stayed involved. His name appeared in the factory's insurance papers. He also had other businesses. He had a shop in Cornhill and a warehouse for porcelain in St. James's. It's not clear if he was selling Bow porcelain or if he was trying to compete with them. Sadly, these businesses didn't do well and closed in 1757.

Edward Heylyn passed away at the age of 70. He died on the Isle of Man. At that time, the Isle of Man was a place where people sometimes went if they had financial problems.

Edward married Jane Slaughter. Her father, Charles Slaughter, was a "factor" at Blackwell Hall, which meant he was a kind of agent for cloth sellers. Edward and Jane had four sons and two daughters.

Today, there's a place in London E3 called Heylyn Square and a nearby Wrexham Road.