William Reynolds (industrialist) facts for kids
William Reynolds (born April 14, 1758 – died June 3, 1803) was a clever ironmaster from Coalbrookdale, England. He was a partner in the local ironworks. William loved learning about science and new inventions. He even created a special way to move canal boats up and down hills, called an inclined plane.
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William Reynolds' Early Life
William Reynolds was born at Bank House in Ketley, a town close to Coalbrookdale. His father, Richard Reynolds, was also an important ironmaster. Richard managed the Ketley Ironworks, which belonged to Abraham Darby II. Around 1777, when William was about 19, he took over running the ironworks at Ketley.
William Reynolds also studied with a famous doctor and chemist named Joseph Black. William kept his interest in science throughout his life. He enjoyed studying chemistry, geology (the study of rocks), and mineralogy (the study of minerals). He even had his own science lab at his home, Bank House. William was always looking for ways to use science to improve industry. He and Abraham Darby built some of the early Boulton and Watt steam engines for their ironworks.
Amazing Inventions and Projects
William Reynolds built three special canals for small boats called "tub boats." These canals helped bring coal and iron ore from nearby mines to the ironworks. They were built between 1787 and 1788 and included the Ketley Canal, the Wombridge Canal, and the Shropshire Canal. A key part of these canals was William's invention: the inclined plane. This clever system could lift canal boats from one water level to another, like an elevator for boats!
Engineers Visit Coalbrookdale
During this time, Coalbrookdale was famous for its new ideas. Many engineers came to visit and try out their inventions.
Thomas Telford, a well-known engineer, started working with the Coalbrookdale company in 1787. William Reynolds built a huge cast-iron aqueduct for Telford called the Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct. It was put together in 1796 and carried the Shrewsbury Canal over the River Tern. Because this aqueduct was so successful, Telford later used cast iron for the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
In January 1802, another inventor named Richard Trevithick came to Coalbrookdale. This was a place where strong metal plates for steam engines were made. Trevithick built and tested a stationary steam engine that used very high pressure. Trevithick had already built a steam-powered vehicle for roads. He then worked, probably with William Reynolds, to build a locomotive that ran on rails right there in Coalbrookdale. We don't know many details about this experiment, but it is believed to be the very first time a locomotive ran on rails!
The Reynolds and Darby Families
Around 1789, William's father, Richard Reynolds, gave his shares in the Ketley ironworks to William and his half-brother, Joseph Reynolds. Later, in 1796, the business interests of the Darby and Reynolds families were separated. The Ketley ironworks then belonged to the Reynolds family, and the Coalbrookdale works belonged to the Darby family.
William Reynolds became very sick in March 1803. He passed away on June 3, 1803, near Broseley, which is next to Coalbrookdale. He was buried in the Quaker burial ground in Coalbrookdale. His share in the Ketley works went to his half-brother, Joseph.
See also
- Coalport
- Hay Inclined Plane
- Tar Tunnel
