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Industrial Biography: Iron Workers and Tool Makers

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By: (1812-1904)

In "Industrial Biography: Iron Workers and Tool Makers," Samuel Smiles provides a fascinating look into the lives of some of the most influential figures in the industrial revolution. The book is filled with detailed accounts of various iron workers and tool makers, shedding light on their struggles, triumphs, and contributions to the world of industry.

What sets this book apart is the depth of research and detailed descriptions of the manufacturing processes involved in producing iron and tools during the 19th century. Smiles effectively brings these historical figures to life, highlighting their ingenuity and perseverance in the face of adversities.

While the writing style may come off as dry or overly technical at times, it is clear that Smiles has a deep respect and admiration for the subjects he writes about. The book serves as an important reminder of the crucial role that iron workers and tool makers played in shaping the modern world.

Overall, "Industrial Biography: Iron Workers and Tool Makers" is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of industry and the individuals who helped build the foundation of our society. It is a testament to the power of human innovation and perseverance in the face of challenges.

Book Description:
Short Biographies of some of the most influential engineers who developed the modern manufacturing methods behind the Industrial Revolution.

Engineers and designers tend to be fairly anonymous figures in history – content to make things rather than write about them. At the time Smiles wrote “Industrial Biography” the whole of British society was undergoing massive changes driven by developments in the High Technology of the day – Mechanical Engineering.

Much of the knowledge we have of the brilliant mechanical engineers who developed the iron and machine tools of the nineteenth century was gathered and recorded by Smiles from the men themselves and from their students. Without Bramah, Maudslay, Nasmyth , and others Brunel would not have been able to build his railways, bridges and steamships. And many of their machine tools are still in use 200 years later: my own lathe looks very similar to one made by Maudslay in 1800 and almost identical to Whitworth lathes from the 1830s.

Smiles’ most famous work is “Self Help” published in 1859: the book that defined the Liberal Victorian response to the poor. In "Industrial Biography", written only four years later, the virtues of thrift, hard work, and self-improvement are woven through the stories of the great mechanical engineers, most of whom raised themselves from very humble beginnings. In some ways Industrial Biography and the other engineering biographies published by Smiles can be seen as examples to illustrate “Self Help”.


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