George Perry (engineer) facts for kids
George Perry (born 1719 – died February 3, 1771) was a talented English engineer, ironmaker, and map-maker. He was also a merchant and an artist who drew detailed plans.
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Early Life and Iron Work
George Perry was born in Somerset, England. His family was well-known there. Even though he was expected to join the church, Perry chose a different path.
He began working at the famous iron works in Coalbrookdale. Here, he worked alongside John Wilkinson. Perry was very skilled and even found new ways to make cannon from solid iron.
With an artist named Thomas Smith, Perry created drawings of Coalbrookdale. These drawings were later made into engravings by François Vivares. They are some of the first pictures ever made of industrial places.
A Man of Many Talents
Perry later became the first manager of the Phoenix Foundry in Liverpool. He was a very busy person with many interests. Besides his work with iron and trade, he loved making maps. He also studied the history of Liverpool and wrote poetry.
Promoting Canals
Perry was one of the first people to see how useful new canals could be. In 1758, soon after the Sankey Canal opened, he wrote an article. It appeared in The Gentleman's Magazine.
In his article, Perry suggested building a "water highway" across England. He thought canals could connect cities like London, Gloucester, Worcester, and Bristol. He also imagined a canal from Liverpool to Hull.
Founding a Business
In 1758, Perry started a branch of the Ironbridge foundry in Liverpool. It began as a simple warehouse. This business later grew into the Fawcett, Preston Engineering Company.
In 1765, Perry married Lydia Ann Lacroy. Her family were Huguenots, who were French Protestants. The street where his foundry was located was named Lydia Ann Street in her honor.
Mapping Liverpool
Perry was an amazing map-maker. He planned a map of Liverpool with Peter Perez Burdett. They also wanted to create a history book about the city.
In 1769, with help from William Yates, Perry finished his best map. It was a large map called 'The New and Accurate Plan of the Town and Port of Leverpool'. In 2008, this map was shown at the Walker Art Gallery. It was a very popular exhibit.
Later Life and Legacy
George Perry passed away on February 3, 1771, when he was 52 years old. He was buried at the Toxteth Unitarian Chapel. There is a special stone on the chapel wall that remembers him. It says he was a "merchant, of Liverpool, who died, universally respected."
After Perry's death, Joseph Rathbone took over his foundry business. Joseph Rathbone had married a daughter of Abraham Darby II, who owned the Coalbrookdale iron works.
Perry's detailed notes and collections were used to write An Essay towards the History of Leverpool in 1773. This book, written by William Enfield, is considered the first history of Liverpool.
