Thomas Blount (inventor) facts for kids
Thomas Blount (born around 1604) was a clever British man. He was a soldier, a member of Parliament, and an inventor. He lived during an exciting time in England's history.
Contents
Thomas Blount: Inventor and Politician
Early Life and Education
Thomas Blount was born in Wricklesmarsh. This place is in Charlton, Kent. He was the second son of Edward Blount. Thomas went to Brasenose College, Oxford in 1623. This was a famous university. He also studied law at Grays Inn in 1624.
A Time of Change: The Civil War
Thomas Blount lived during the English Civil War. This was a big fight in England. It was between the King's supporters (called Royalists) and the Parliament's army. Thomas became a colonel in the Parliamentary Army. This means he was a high-ranking officer.
After the war, the King returned to power. This was called the Restoration. Thomas was briefly held in prison. But he was soon released. In 1653, he became a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented Kent in a special Parliament. It was known as the Barebones Parliament.
A Man of Ideas: Inventions and Science
Thomas Blount was a very smart person. He knew many scientists. These scientists were part of the Royal Society. This is a famous group for science. Thomas himself joined the Royal Society in 1665. He left the group a few years later in 1668.
He built a special carriage with his own hands. This carriage had a new design. It was made to be easier for both people and horses. Many people noticed his invention. Famous diarists like Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn wrote about it. They also wrote about his other experiments.
Thomas had a large home in Charlton. There, he experimented with a vineyard. He also tried new types of plows. He even built an underground rabbit warren. He was one of the first people to put a "way-wiser" on a carriage. A way-wiser is an early type of odometer. It measures how far you have traveled.
