I inherited habit of book reading from my parents. Although by profession i am an engineer but due to this habit have vast knowledge of several fields. During my visit to USA a few years back i had bought a few (only 15) books for myself. Besides i started exploring internet for new books and while looking for world economy history found about Mathew Boulton. I read about his life and all achievements along with his partner James Watt. At that time i had no idea that one day i will land in the historical city that was centre of wealth and power for world in mid 18th century “Birmingham”. The most interesting thing the taxi i took from airport dropped me in front of a campus in City Centre named "Mathew Boulton campus". That day i decided to make web page and documentary on this revolutionary figure.
Monday, 1 August 2011
Marriages and children
Mathew Boulton at the age of 21 on 3rd march 1749 married Mary Robinson, a distant cousin and the daughter of a prosperous Lichfield merce. The couple stayed for some time with the bride's mother in Lichfield and then moved to Birmingham. From Mary, Boulton had three daughters in the early 1750s, but all died in infancy. unfortunately in 1759 due to deteriorated health Mary Boulton died. Not long after her death Boulton married her sister Anne Robinsons in 1760. boulton had a daughter Anne Boulton and a son Mathew Robinsons Boulton from Anne. they lived 23 years of happy married life. the second marriage ended up due to tragic death of Anne.
After Mathew Boulton death his son continued the business with James Watt son but was not as successful as his father was. Later on the Soho Empire gradually sold out by Mathew Boulton's grandson.
After Mathew Boulton death his son continued the business with James Watt son but was not as successful as his father was. Later on the Soho Empire gradually sold out by Mathew Boulton's grandson.
Life Calender of Mathew Boulton
14 September 1728
Matthew Boulton's birth in Birmingham. Father Matthew Boulton senior Mother Christiana Peers.
1745
left school and he joins the family business.
1749
contracted his first marriage with daughter of rich Lichfield family Mary Robinson.
had three daughters from Mary who died in infancy.
1759
Death of first wife Mary and father, Matthew Boulton senior.
1760
Marries sister of Mary Ann Robinson. although by law getting married to sister of wife was not permitted by law.
1761
At Handsworth, leases 13 acres of land including Soho Cottage.
1762
Builds Soho Manufactory. Started exporting jewellery,silver and decorative wares throughout Europe with partner John Fothergill.
1766
Lunar Society emerged, with Dr. Erasmus Darwin, Matthew Boulton and Dr. William Small. Same year Boulton and his second Ann wife moved into Soho House.
29 January 1768
Daughter, Anne Boulton born . Matthew Boulton in the General Hospital Committee organised the first of the Birmingham Music Festivals.
8 August 1770
Son Matthew Robinson Boulton born.
1772
Boulton supplies ‘green glass earrings’ for botanist Joseph Banks to take with him as bartering goods on Captain Cook’s circumnavigation of the globe.
1773
Succeeded in campaign for establishing The Birmingham Assay Office.
July 1783
After 23 years of happy married life Matthew Boulton's second wife Ann Robinsons face a tragic death.
1785
Boulton elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
1790
Soho House remodelled by James and SamuelWyatt.
1793
Matthew Boulton became Chairman of the Birmingham Theatre Proprietors Committee.
1794
Serves as High Sherriff of Staffordshire and as Chairman of the Governors of the Birmingham Dispensary.
1797
Awarded Royal Mint contract to strike copper coinage at Soho. Boulton &Watt steam engines and minting machinery were exported worldwide.
1805
Battle of Trafalgar. Boulton strikes a commemorative medal for Sailors and Marines of British Navy.
17 August 1809
Matthew Boulton dies at Soho House .
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Royal Mail Stamps-A Tribute to Pioneers of Industrial Revolution
Royal Mail on 10 March 2009 issued 8 stamps celebrating life and work of Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution.those extraordinary individual were:-
Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution – Stamp by Stamp
- Matthew Boulton Manufacturing
- James Watt Steam Engineering
- Richard Arkwright Textiles
- Josiah Wedgwood Ceramics
- George Stephenson Railways
- Henry Maudslay Machine Making
- James Brindley Canal Engineering
- John Mc Adam Road Building
Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution – Stamp by Stamp
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Matthew Boulton – Manufacturing |
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James Watt – Steam Engineering |
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Richard Arkwright – Textiles |
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| Josiah Wedgwood – Ceramics |
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Henry Maudslay – Machine |
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James Brindley- Canals |
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John McAdam – Road Building |
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George Stephenson – Railways |
For further reading please visit Royal mail website:-
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Soho mint was established by Matthew Boulton in 1789 . It underwent an up gradation by adding vacuum pipe directly linked with Steam Engine in 1798. This mint stop striking coins in 1813 by the order of Matthew Robinson Boulton. The Mint was then sold to East India Company for establishing a mint in Bombay in 1821. In 1826 Matthew Robinson Boulton established another manual mint at smaller scale .This mint got its Steam engine in 1831.
Soho Mint products
Soho mint was sold in 1850, when it was closed down in1848. Ralph Heaton the new owner of Soho equipment started the Birmingham Mint with Soho equipment in jewellery quarter.
Soho Mint products
Trafalgar Medal
The Battle of Trafalgar was fought on 21 October 1805 between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navy. It is considered to be the most decisive British Naval victory ( under command of Nelson) of the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815).
Following Nelson’s famous victory, Boulton had minted special medal at Soho mint for all the Sailors and Marines who served in the battle. Heinrich Kuchler, designed this medal with the portrait of Nelson on obvers and the battle scene on the reverse of the medal.
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| Trafalgar Medal |
for further information about Heinrich Kuchler click the link:-
Pioneers of Industrial Revolution
Mathew Boulton is considered to be one of the Pioneers of Industrial revolution. He together with his friends of lunar society and other brilliant individuals came to propel the United Kingdom to the forefront of the Industrial Revolution.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Books on Matthew Boulton, and art of money making
GOOD MONEY - Birmingham Button Makers, the Royal Mint, and the Beginnings of Modern Coinage, 1775-1821
The Good Money written by Selgin George is the true and remarkable story of private coinage and banking in Britain in the early years of the Industrial Revolution (1775-1850). Making money was a business in demand. The needs of business for small denominations were changing. It was time when Britain ran out of change. A remarkable story of Birmingham Merchants who started minting change to end this crises.
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| Good Money |
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Lecture by Selgin George
Matthew Boulton and the Art of Making Money, edited by Richard Clay and Sue Tungate
Interview of Dr Richard Clay
The art of Money Making
External Links
Matthew Boulton, Father of Modern coin Making
Matthew Boulton created the Soho Mint in his manufactory in 1788. Containing eight steam engine driven machines, each capable of striking 70 to 84 coins per minute with perfectly round, all of equal diameter and exactly concentric with the edge. Much faster machines, operated by fewer persons, for less expense and most importantly minting much beautiful coins than any other in the market.
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| steam engine driven machines |
The machine kept an account of the number of pieces struck. The steam machinery strikes an inscription on the edge and two faces in only one cycle unlike older machinery which required two or three cycles for each coin. In addition to copper coins, silver coins were also struck for the British colonies, and various medals and trade tokens were also consulted.
In 1797, Soho mint was awarded a contract for striking official cartwheel one and two pence coins. Weighing one ounce and two ounces respectively, they were very large and thick.
Being so large and thick, they were difficult to counterfeit because they required a steam-powered coin press those were only owned by Matthew Boulton and James Watt. Soho Mint alone struck some 45 million pennies, twopenny pieces and halfpennies produced between 1797-1799.
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| Name of Soho Mint appear on famous Cartwheel two penny |
These pennies, twopenny pieces and halfpennies were designed by the leading European medals, Küchler.Partners Boulton &Watt later supplied steam powered press to the Royal Mint and mints abroad. Mathew Boulton is certainly credited to be the father of present coinage.
Watt, in his eulogy after Boulton's 1809 death, stated:
External Links
Token Story
These pennies, twopenny pieces and halfpennies were designed by the leading European medals, Küchler.Partners Boulton &Watt later supplied steam powered press to the Royal Mint and mints abroad. Mathew Boulton is certainly credited to be the father of present coinage.
Condition of British Coins in 18th Century
Watt, in his eulogy after Boulton's 1809 death, stated:
‘’In short, had Mr. Boulton done nothing more in the world than he has accomplished in improving the coinage, his name would deserve to be immortalised.’’
External Links
Token Story
External Links
Token Story
Distribution of Soho Mint Products
Matthew Boulton established his Soho Mint In 1788, producing high-quality coins and medals and started his world wide Coin Minting Operations. These high quality coins were exported to Canada, USA ,Subcontinent India, Australia China, and Europe. In 1797 Soho was also awarded the contract to produce the British copper coinage. Boulton &Watt also re-equipped the Royal Mint and mints abroad.Matthew Boulton, is also considered to be Father of Modern coin Making.
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Boulton & Watt Sirra Leon Abolition Soho Mint |
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Bevois Reverse, struck at Soho Mint |
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Bevois Obverse, struck at Soho Mint |
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Soho House
SOHO HOUSE located in Handsworth Birmingham, was the residence of Matthew Boulton from 1766 in 1809. In 1995 it was converted into a museum by Birmingham city council to showcase his life and achievements.
In 1760 Boulton decided to move out of congested thriving industrial city Birmingham in order to expand his toy Manufactory business. He acquired the lease of the Soho Mill in 1761 and developed it as Soho Manufactory. He also expanded the cottage next to Soho Manufactory into Soho House.
Originally designed by Samuel Wyatt , extension work on the current building began in 1789, completed in 1796 turning it to a picturesque countryside. The house faced with sheets of painted slate to give the appearance of large stone blocks was one of the modern residential buildings in the United Kingdom.It is a Grade II* listed building.
After the death of Mathouew Boulton in 1809, his son Matthew Robinson continued business with James watt son. Later on the open land surrounded the Soho house was sold by the grandson of Mathew Boulton. A part of the house including kitchen, servant rooms along with soho manufactory was demolished in 1862. Since the Boulton’s family moved out of the house in the 19th century, it was on lease as a boarding house, hotel, hostel for policemen and finally in 1990s it became property of Birmingham City Council. It was then transformed as a Community Museum, now open to the public without charge. It hosts exhibitions of local and community interests.
Where to Find Soho House
Simon at Soho House
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