Looking back 

Industrial Revolution - Part II

Last week’s article titled ‘Winds of change’ would have enlightened you about the Industrial Revolution that began in Britain and swept through the rest of the world eventually.

Today too we feature more valuable information about these revolutionary changes that started way back in the 18th century, paving the way for the comforts and benefits we enjoy today.

As we explained in our previous article, the Industrial Revolution was a time of invention and new developments. As a result of it, over a space of just a few decades, individual producers of crops, textile, iron and other products were replaced by modern factories and farms. Machinery and goods were made of durable materials such as steel and iron and new sources of power to operate these machines were introduced.

The wide-ranging changes resulted in cheaper goods and a comfortable life. However, it also led to pollution on a wide scale, health hazards and dull working conditions. Child labour was one of the major negative impacts of it.

But, despite the negative impacts, it is thanks to the Industrial Revolution that today we enjoy modern-day items such as the electric light, the telephone, the aeroplane and also the scientific technology that enables sending astronauts into space.

The Industrial Revolution was a time of bold inventions. During that time, many of the inventors had to face criticism from the public and also face hardship before their work or inventions were recognised and accepted.When new ways to produce goods on a larger scale, and at lower prices were introduced, following the various techniques and machinery deviced by the then inventors, some of the people were reluctant to accept these changes. One of the major reasons for this opposition to the sweeping changes was the fact that machines replaced humans and deprived many of employment. In fact, in 1811 factory owners in Nottingham were sent threatening letters by a secret group of people. The group was nicknamed the Luddites. They broke into factories and destroyed machinery.

The Industrial Revolution continues even today with each new development in industry and technology we face. So, let’s check out details about some of the inventors who were responsible for these changes that have made such a change in the way we live today!

Abraham Darby

Born - April 14 1678 in Dudley, Worcestershire, England.
Died - March 8. 1717

Coke burning blast furnace

This English engineer is considered to be the cornerstone of the Industrial Revolution by many as his development of a method to use coke for smelting rather than charcoal and wood enabled advanced mass production of iron and brass items.He invented the coke burning blast furnace in 1709. Coke is a derivative (something developed) of coal which is produced by heating the coal and removing the sulphur and combustible impurities from it. Coke delivered hotter, more sustainable heat without flame.

Improvements to this coke furnace later led to the evolution of the iron and steel industry which in turn spawned aircraft, automobile and ship building industries and also other construction work using these durable materials.

In the 17th century, charcoal was the leading fuel used for stoking (feeding furnaces). As more and more coal was needed to keep the furnaces burning continuously, Darby’s blast furnace fuelled by coke was an important breakthrough.

Eli Whitney

Born - December 8, 1765 in Westboro, Massachusetts,USA
Died - January 8, 1825.

Model of a cotton gin

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, farmers in the southern part of the United States had been growing cotton since the 17th century as the warm, humid climate was ideal for it. Cotton was one of the growing raw materials used for clothing. It was grown in huge plantations, but the farmers could not find a way of processing large amounts of this cotton, keeping pace with the growing demand for cotton.

Slaves were shipped in from Africa to work on the plantations, but hundreds of man-hours were wasted to separate cotton seeds from the cotton fibre. Eli Whitney’s development of a cotton gin - a machine which could generate up to 50 lbs of cleaned cotton on a daily basis in 1793, resulted in a breakthrough for the American cotton producers.

Whitney’s device changed farming in America almost overnight, making United States the world’s leading cotton producer.

The cotton gin was the first device that helped clean short staple cotton which was produced in the United States.

A machine known as the Chakra was used in East India to separate long-staple cotton grown in that region.Whitney’s cotton gin was improved upon later with horse-powered and water-powered gins to increase production. As a result cotton became cheaper and the number one selling textile. Great Britain became the most important market for American cotton.

Thomas Newcomen

Born - February, 1664 in Dartmouth, Devon England.
Died - August 5, 1729

Drawing of the steam engine

He perfected a practical steam engine for pumping water and is regarded as a forefather of the Industrial Revolution.

Newcomen’s steam engine is believed to have been developed around 1710. He is said to have combined the ideas of Thomas Savery and Denis Papin to create his steam engine.

The Newcomen’s engine remained without any changes for about three quarters of a century and spread not only in the UK, but also to mainland Europe.

Even though his machine was by no means efficient it was useful at the time of invention. It was however gradually replaced after 1775 (especially in areas where coal was expensive). An improved design was introduced by James Watt.

James Hargreaves

Born - April 22, 1720 in Knuzden Brook, Oswaldtwistel, Lancashire, England.
Died - 1778

According to some reports, this English weaver and carpenter (who was also known as Hargraves) had got the idea to design the spinning jenny after seeing a one thread wheel overturned upon the floor.

Model of the Spinning Jenny

He had noticed how both the wheel and spindle continued to work and realised that if a number of spindles were placed upright, side by side, not just one, but several threads could be spun at once. So, he had improved upon the normal spinning wheel and come up with the eight-spindles spinning Jenny in 1764.

Some claim that Hargreaves called his new invention the spinning Jennifer originally after his daughter while others say it was named after his wife.

However, by 1768, the invention was called the spinning Jenny.

Even though Hargreaves’ invention was unique, he could not obtain patent rights for it since he had already marketed his product prior to his application. But, on July 12, 1770 Hargreaves managed to get patent rights for a 16 spindle machine he designed.

What’s interesting is that Hargreaves, who went down in history for his ingenious invention was a person who had received no formal education. He was never taught how to read or write, but he reached great heights in life as a result of perseverance.He was not ‘spoon fed’ but self-taught. His invention paved the way for a mechanised textile industry.

Sir Humphrey Davy

Born - December 17, 1778 in Penzance, Cornwall, England.
Died - May 29, 1829
 

Miner’s safety lamp

He was a British chemist known for his numerous experiments in electro chemicals. He is known as the ‘Father of electrolysis’. His expertise in the field was sought by a group of miners from Newcastle when mining disasters caused by explosions began to grow during that time.

With the growing demand for coal, mines were dug deeper and deeper. This resulted in risks. One obvious risk was that the mines themselves could collapse and the other was that methane gas and coal dust (both highly inflammable) could collect in the deep mines and trigger explosions when they came into contact with a miner’s candle or spark from a metal tool.

As Humphrey was knowledgeable about gases, he was approached after an explosion killed 92 men and boys.

He is credited with designing the first miner’s safety lamp. This lamp was built with a wire mesh which screened the flame and prevented sparks from escaping.

He is responsible for the discovery of the anaesthetic effect of nitrous oxide in 1799 which was a major contribution to surgery.He became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1803, was knighted in 1812 and became a baronet in 1818.

His Davy lamp became famous. However he’s not the only person to design a safety lamp. Even George Stephenson designed one.