Isaac Wilkinson facts for kids
Isaac Wilkinson was an important English businessman, born in 1695 and passing away in 1784. He was one of the key people who helped start the iron industry. He was also a pioneer of the Industrial Revolution, a time when new machines and factories changed how things were made. Isaac Wilkinson was very skilled, but he often had problems with his business dealings. He also spent a lot of time in court because of disagreements.
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Early Life of Isaac Wilkinson
Isaac Wilkinson was born in Washington, in a place called County Durham. He was the fifth child of his parents. His mother died shortly after he was born. His father passed away in 1704. Isaac was then raised by his older brother, John, who was a wool merchant.
Isaac probably received some basic education. After that, he became an apprentice foundryman. This likely happened at the nearby Swalwell works. There, he became known as a very skilled iron-worker. His skills meant he could ask for high wages.
Moving to Cumberland and Lancashire
Between 1721 and 1723, Isaac Wilkinson moved to Workington. He worked at the Little Clifton furnace there. This furnace likely made cast iron using coke as fuel. Isaac worked as a special contractor for the furnace.
In 1735, he moved to the Backbarrow furnace. This furnace used charcoal to smelt iron. Isaac bought iron from the company and sold his own products. He also influenced his son, John Wilkinson, who later became famous too.
In 1738, Isaac received a patent for a cast box smoothing-iron. However, it's thought he already knew the patent might not be valid. He started a business with his brother, John. But Isaac used some tricky accounting methods. This led to disagreements over profits, and the partnership ended. By this time, Isaac was living in Cartmel. He had several business interests, including the Lowwood iron company. However, the Lowwood project also ended in legal disputes. This happened when his patent's weakness became clear. He also accused the company of hiring workers from his other businesses.
Working in Wales
In 1753, Wilkinson moved south to Bersham, near Wrexham in Wales. There, he ran a furnace called the Bersham Ironworks. He worked with his son John and other partners. Isaac helped the business grow. He also kept his own separate casting business.
In 1757, he got another patent. This one was for a special blowing-engine for blast furnaces. It used columns of water. It's not clear how well this invention worked. One of his partners, Edward Blakeway, went bankrupt in 1759. His shares went to Mary Lee, who later married John Wilkinson in 1763. This gave the Wilkinsons control of Bersham, and the business did very well.
Isaac also patented a new moulding process in 1758. His personal casting business continued to cause problems. Legal disputes with his partners, including his own son, started as early as 1762. These problems got worse after the Seven Years' War ended in 1763. Demand for weapons went down, which hurt Bersham's business. Isaac then moved to Bristol. His son John ended up owning the Bersham works.
Later Life and Family
Isaac became a foundryman in Bristol. He was involved in the Dowlais Ironworks and Cyfarthfa Ironworks in south Wales. He also started the Plymouth Ironworks with John Guest. More legal problems arose from disagreements with coal suppliers at Cyfarthfa. Isaac's money situation became difficult. From the 1770s, he was involved in more lawsuits. This included more disputes with his son John. Isaac Wilkinson died in London in 1784. He was buried at St Giles in the Fields.
Isaac Wilkinson was a Presbyterian in his religion. In 1727, he married Mary Johnson, who died in 1786. They had seven children, including:
- John Wilkinson (1728–1808), who became a very famous industrialist.
- Mary Wilkinson (1743–1796), who married the well-known scientist Joseph Priestley.
- William Wilkinson (1744–1808), who also became an industrialist.
Images for kids
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Bersham Ironworks, where Isaac Wilkinson worked.
