Richard Reynolds (ironmaster) facts for kids
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Richard Reynolds (born November 1735 – died 10 September 1816) was an important person in the history of iron. He was an ironmaster, which means he owned or managed iron factories. He was a partner in the famous ironworks in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, during a time when iron production was changing a lot. Richard Reynolds was also a Quaker, a member of a Christian group known for its simple lifestyle and peaceful beliefs. He was also a philanthropist, meaning he loved to help others and gave a lot of money to charity.
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Richard Reynolds' Early Life and Work
Richard Reynolds was born in Bristol in 1735. His father was also named Richard and sold iron. When Richard was young, he became an apprentice to a grocer in Bristol in 1749. This means he learned a trade by working for someone experienced.
After finishing his training in 1756, he went to Coalbrookdale for business. There, he became good friends with Abraham Darby II, who was a very important iron producer. In 1757, Richard married Abraham Darby's daughter, Hannah.
Richard Reynolds then took charge of Abraham Darby's ironworks at Ketley. In 1762, he bought half of the Ketley works. When his father-in-law, Abraham Darby II, passed away in 1763, Richard moved to Coalbrookdale. He managed the main ironworks there until Abraham Darby's son, Abraham Darby III, was old enough to take over in 1768. After that, Richard went back to managing the Ketley works.
Big Changes at Coalbrookdale
Richard Reynolds helped the Coalbrookdale works grow and improve a lot. Under his leadership, they started making parts for early steam engines. These parts were called cylinders.
New Ways to Make Iron
In 1766, a new way to make iron was developed. It was patented by the Cranege brothers, who worked with Richard Reynolds. This new method changed pig iron into wrought iron using a special furnace called a reverbatory furnace. What was special about it? It used coal for fuel instead of charcoal. Before this, iron making needed a lot of wood to make charcoal. Using coal meant they didn't depend on wood anymore. Richard Reynolds understood how important this was, and this new process was put into practice at Coalbrookdale. This method later helped other inventors like Henry Cort improve iron production even more.
Iron Rails for Transport
In 1767, Richard Reynolds made another big change. He replaced the wooden rails used for moving iron and coal around the works with cast iron rails. This was a very important step! It's believed to be the first time iron rails were used for transportation. This idea later led to the development of modern railways.
Richard Reynolds' Later Life
Even after Abraham Darby III took over in 1768, Richard Reynolds stayed involved with the Coalbrookdale company. He worked hard to make the factories better for the people who worked there.
In 1785, he helped create the United Chamber of Manufacturers of Great Britain. He represented the iron industry in this group. In 1788, he and others got permission from Parliament to build the Shropshire Canal. This canal was important because it brought coal and iron ore right to the factories. Around 1789, Richard Reynolds retired from his business. By this time, the ironworks in the Coalbrookdale area were some of the biggest in the country.
In 1804, he moved to Bristol. Richard Reynolds decided he wanted to give away his money to help others while he was still alive. He gave a lot of money to charity, often through private helpers. It's thought he gave away at least £10,000 every year. He also set aside a large sum of money to help charities in Bristol.
Richard Reynolds passed away on 10 September 1816, when he was 80 years old. He was visiting Cheltenham for his health. He was buried in Bristol.
Richard Reynolds had a daughter, Hannah Mary, and a son, William Reynolds (1758–1803), with his first wife. William also became an important manager of the ironworks. Richard had three more sons with his second wife, Rebecca.
