Matthew Boulton - Knowledge

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obliterated the old design in his restriking. Though Boulton was not as successful in defeating counterfeiters as he hoped (high-quality fakes arrived at the bank's offices within days of the issuance), these coins circulated until the Royal Mint again struck large quantities of silver coin in 1816, when Boulton's were withdrawn. He oversaw the final issue of his coppers for Britain in 1806, and a major issue of coppers to circulate only in Ireland. Even as his health failed, he had his servants carry him from Soho House to the Soho Mint, and he sat and watched the machinery, which was kept exceptionally busy in 1808 by the striking of almost ninety million pieces for the East India Company. He wrote, "Of all the mechanical subjects I ever entered upon, there is none in which I ever engaged with so much ardour as that of bringing to perfection the art of coining."

502: 974:, the coins featured a raised rim with incuse or sunken letters and numbers, features difficult for counterfeiters to match. The twopenny coins measured exactly an inch and a half across; 16 pennies lined up would reach two feet. The exact measurements and weights made it easy to detect lightweight counterfeits. Küchler also designed proportionate halfpennies and farthings; these were not authorised by the proclamation, and though pattern pieces were struck, they never officially entered circulation. The halfpenny measured ten to a foot, the farthing 12 to a foot. The coins were nicknamed "cartwheels", both because of the size of the twopenny coin and in reference to the broad rims of both denominations. The penny was the first of its denomination to be struck in copper. The new coins were issued at the Soho Mint and by 1020: 810:

told it was often inoperable in the summer due to drought suggested that a steam engine would remedy that defect. Boulton wrote to Watt urging the modification of the engine, warning that they were reaching the limits of the pumping engine market: "There is no other Cornwall to be found, and the most likely line for increasing the consumption of our engines is the application of them to mills, which is certainly an extensive field." Watt spent much of 1782 on the modification project, and though he was concerned that few orders would result, completed it at the end of the year. One order was received in 1782, and several others from mills and breweries soon after. George III toured the

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month of issuance. Boulton was awarded additional contracts in 1799 and 1806, each for the lower three copper denominations. Though the cartwheel design was used again for the 1799 penny (struck with the date 1797), all other strikings used lighter planchets to reflect the rise in the price of copper, and featured more conventional designs. Boulton greatly reduced the counterfeiting problem by adding lines to the coin edges, and striking slightly concave planchets. Counterfeiters turned their sights to easier targets, the pre-Soho pieces, which were not withdrawn, due to the expense, until a gradual withdrawal took place between 1814 and 1817.

368: 575:, with the attendant risks of damage and loss. Alternatively they could be sent to London, but this exposed them to the risk of being copied by competitors. Boulton wrote in 1771, "I am very desirous of becoming a great silversmith, yet I am determined not to take up that branch in the large way I intended, unless powers can be obtained to have a marking hall at Birmingham." Boulton petitioned Parliament for the establishment of an assay office in Birmingham. Though the petition was bitterly opposed by London goldsmiths, he was successful in getting Parliament to pass an act establishing assay offices in Birmingham and 608: 794:

on-site under the supervision of a Soho engineer. The company made its profit by comparing the amount of coal used by the machine with that used by an earlier, less efficient Newcomen engine, and required payments of one-third of the savings annually for the next 25 years. This pricing scheme led to disputes, as many mines fuelled the engines using coal of unmarketable quality that cost the mine owners only the expense of extraction. Mine owners were also reluctant to make the annual payments, viewing the engines as theirs once erected, and threatened to petition Parliament to repeal Watt's patent.

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by two setts of boys. The machine keeps an account of the number of pieces struck which cannot be altered from the truth by any of the persons employed. The apparatus strikes an inscription upon the edge with the same blow that strikes the two faces. It strikes the ground of the pieces brighter than any other coining press can do. It strikes the pieces perfectly round, all of equal diameter, and exactly concentric with the edge, which cannot be done by any other machinery now in use.

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invested in the most advanced metalworking equipment, and the complex was admired as a modern industrial marvel. Although the cost of the principal building alone had been estimated at £2,000 (about £276,000 today); the final cost was five times that amount. The partnership spent over £20,000 in building and equipping the premises. The partners' means were not equal to the total costs, which were met only by heavy borrowing and by artful management of creditors.

690: 759:, ran into financial difficulties, and Boulton, to whom he owed £1,200, accepted his two-thirds share in Watt's patent as satisfaction of the debt. Boulton's partner Fothergill refused to have any part in the speculation, and accepted cash for his share. Boulton's share was worth little without Watt's efforts to improve his invention. At the time, the principal use of steam engines was to pump water out of mines. The engine commonly in use was the 1134: 1344:. The design is the first to feature a dual portrait on a Bank of England note, and presents the two industrialists side by side with images of a steam engine and Boulton's Soho Manufactory. Quotes attributed to each of the men are inscribed on the note: "I sell here, sir, what all the world desires to have—POWER" (Boulton) and "I can think of nothing else but this machine" (Watt). The notes entered circulation on 2 November 2011. 1209: 1130:, opened in 1779. Boulton also helped build the General Dispensary, where outpatient treatment could be obtained. A firm supporter of the Dispensary, he served as treasurer, and wrote, "If the funds of the institution are not sufficient for its support, I will make up the deficiency." The Dispensary soon outgrew its original quarters, and a new building in Temple Row was opened in 1808, shortly before Boulton's death. 779: 457:, was probably bribed. Boulton later advised another man who was seeking to wed his late wife's sister: "I advise you to say nothing of your intentions but to go quickly and snugly to Scotland or some obscure corner of London, suppose Wapping, and there take lodgings to make yourself a parishioner. When the month is expired and the Law fulfilled, live and be happy ... I recommend silence, secrecy, and Scotland." 1234:

retirement Boulton remained active, continuing to run the Soho Mint. When a new Royal Mint was built on Tower Hill in 1805, Boulton was awarded the contract to equip it with modern machinery. His continued activity distressed Watt, who had entirely retired from Soho, and who wrote to Boulton in 1804, "our friends fear much that your necessary attention to the operation of the coinage may injure your health".

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could have had no certainty of an adequate return,—we shall be at a loss whether most to admire his ingenuity, his perseverance, or his munificence. He has conducted the whole more like a sovereign than a private manufacturer; and the love of fame has always been to him a greater stimulus than the love of gain. Yet it is to be hoped that, even in the latter point of view, the enterprise answered its purpose.

949: 548: 445:, and wealthy in her own right. They lived briefly with the bride's mother in Lichfield, and then moved to Birmingham, where the elder Matthew Boulton made his son a partner at the age of 21. Though the son signed business letters "from father and self", by the mid-1750s he was effectively running the business. The elder Boulton retired in 1757 and died in 1759. 343:, to which he soon adapted steam power. He sought to improve the poor state of Britain's coinage, and after several years of effort obtained a contract in 1797 to produce the first British copper coinage in a quarter century. His "cartwheel" pieces were well designed and difficult to counterfeit, and included the first striking of the large copper 559:, silver-plated copper, for those less well off. Boulton and his father had long made small silver items, but there is no record of large items in either silver or Sheffield plate being made in Birmingham before Boulton did so. To make items such as candlesticks more cheaply than the London competition, the firm made many items out of thin, 1104:

The Lunar Society ... members have been called the fathers of the Industrial Revolution ... he importance of this particular Society stems from its pioneering work in experimental chemistry, physics, engineering, and medicine, combined with leadership in manufacturing and commerce, and with

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Mr. is proof of how much scientific knowledge may be acquired without much regular study, by means of a quick & just apprehension, much practical application, and nice mechanical feelings. He had very correct notions of the several branches of natural philosophy, was master of every metallic art

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was "graciously pleased to give directions that measures might be taken for an immediate supply of such copper coinage as might be best adapted to the payment of the laborious poor in the present exigency ... which should go and pass for one penny and two pennies". The proclamation required that

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It will coin much faster, with greater ease, with fewer persons, for less expense, and more beautiful than any other machinery ever used for coining ... Can lay the pieces or blanks upon the die quite true and without care or practice and as fast as wanted. Can work night and day without fatigue

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In the course of my journeys, I observe that I receive upon an average two-thirds counterfeit halfpence for change at toll-gates, etc. and I believe the evil is daily increasing, as the spurious money is carried into circulation by the lowest class of manufacturers, who pay with it the principal part

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Between 1775 and 1800 the firm produced approximately 450 engines. It did not let other manufacturers produce engines with separate condensers, and approximately 1,000 Newcomen engines, less efficient but cheaper and not subject to the restrictions of Watt's patent, were produced in Britain

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in the Black Country. Both engines were successfully installed, leading to favourable publicity for the partnership. Boulton and Watt began to install engines elsewhere. The firm rarely produced the engine itself: it had the purchaser buy parts from a number of suppliers and then assembled the engine

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of Russia—the Empress described the vases as superior to French ormolu, and cheaper as well. Boulton continued to solicit orders, though "ormolu" was dropped from the firm's business description from 1779, and when the Boulton-Fothergill partnership was dissolved by the latter's 1782 death there were

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with mercury, and applied to the item, which was then heated to drive off the mercury, leaving the gold decoration. In the late 1760s and early 1770s there was a fashion among the wealthy for decorated vases, and he sought to cater to this craze. He initially ordered ceramic vases from his friend and

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The Boultons had three daughters in the early 1750s, but all died in infancy. Mary Boulton's health deteriorated, and she died in August 1759. Not long after her death Boulton began to woo her sister Anne. Marriage with a deceased wife's sister was forbidden by ecclesiastical law, though permitted by

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Though Boulton hoped his activities for the Lunar Society would "prevent the decline of a Society which I hope will be lasting", as members died or moved away they were not replaced. In 1813, four years after his death, the Society was dissolved and a lottery was held to dispose of its assets. Since

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to the South Pacific, and took with him green glass earrings made at Soho to give to the natives. In 1776 Captain Cook ordered an instrument from Boulton, most likely for use in navigation. Boulton generally preferred not to take on lengthy projects, and he warned Cook that its completion might take

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Despite time constraints imposed on him by the expansion of his business, Boulton continued his "philosophical" work (as scientific experimentation was then called). He wrote in his notebooks observations on the freezing and boiling point of mercury, on people's pulse rates at different ages, on the

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in the mid-1780s; they were just another small metal product like those he manufactured. He also had shares in several Cornish copper mines, and had a large personal stock of copper, purchased when the mines were unable to dispose of it elsewhere. However, when orders for counterfeit money were sent

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Boulton boasted about Watt's talents, leading to an employment offer from the Russian government, which Boulton had to persuade Watt to turn down. In 1774 he was able to convince Watt to move to Birmingham, and they entered into a partnership the following year. By 1775 six of the 14 years of Watt's

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front and 19 bays for loading and unloading, and had quarters for clerks and managers on the upper storeys. The structure was designed by local architect William Wyatt at a time when industrial buildings were commonly designed by engineers. Other buildings contained workshops. Boulton and Fothergill

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Nothing could in the least palliate this long, this cold, this very distant separation from my dearest wife and children but the certain knowledge that I am preparing for their ease, happiness and prosperity, and when that is the prise, I know no hardships that I would not encounter with, to obtain

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nor his daughter Anne enjoyed robust health; the younger Matthew was often ill and was a poor student who was shuttled from school to school until he joined his father's business in 1790; Anne suffered from a diseased leg that prevented her from enjoying a full life. Despite his lengthy absences on

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stopped redeeming its bills for gold. In an effort to get more money into circulation, the Government adopted a plan to issue large quantities of copper coins, and Lord Hawkesbury summoned Boulton to London on 3 March 1797, informing him of the Government's plan. Four days later, Boulton attended a

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responded by shutting itself down, worsening the situation. Few of the silver coins being passed were genuine. Even the copper coins were melted down and replaced with lightweight fakes. The Royal Mint struck no copper coins for 48 years, from 1773 until 1821. The resultant gap was filled with

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Besides seeking to improve local life, Boulton took an interest in world affairs. Initially sympathetic to the cause of the rebellious American colonists, Boulton changed his view once he realised that an independent America might be damaging towards British trade, and in 1775 organised a petition

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in 1784 in the (incorrect) belief it was the centennial of Handel's birth and the (correct) belief that it was the 25th anniversary of his death, Boulton attended and wrote, "I scarcely know which was grandest, the sounds or the scene. Both was transcendibly fine that it is not in my power of

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in 1771 and 1772. The Christie's exhibition succeeded in publicising Boulton and his products, which were highly praised, but the sales were not financially successful with many works left unsold or sold below cost. When the craze for vases ended in the early 1770s, the partnership was left with a

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of Lichfield. Boulton's father, also named Matthew and born in 1700, moved to Birmingham from Lichfield to serve an apprenticeship, and in 1723 he married Christiana Piers. The elder Boulton was a toymaker with a small workshop specialising in buckles. Matthew Boulton was born in 1728, their third

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Concerned about the level of crime in Birmingham, Boulton complained, "The streets are infested from Noon Day to midnight with prostitutes." In an era prior to the establishment of the police, Boulton served on a committee to organise volunteers to patrol the streets at night and reduce crime. He

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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; and if it be considered that this was done in the midst of various other important avocations, and at enormous expense,—for which, at the time, he

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The pumping engine for use in mines was a great success. In 1782 the firm sought to modify Watt's invention so that the engine had a rotary motion, making it suitable for use in mills and factories. On a 1781 visit to Wales Boulton had seen a powerful copper-rolling mill driven by water, and when

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The cartwheel twopenny coin was not struck again; much of the mintage was melted down in 1800 when the price of copper increased and it had proved too heavy for commerce and was difficult to strike. Much to Boulton's chagrin, the new coins were being counterfeited in copper-covered lead within a

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In the 1770s Boulton introduced an insurance system for his workers that served as the model for later schemes, allowing his workers compensation in the event of injury or illness. The first of its kind in any large establishment, employees paid one-sixtieth of their wages into the Soho Friendly

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the coins on the side showing the Spanish king with a small image of George III, but the public was reluctant to accept them, in part due to counterfeiting. This attempt inspired the couplet, "The Bank to make their Spanish Dollars pass/Stamped the head of a fool on the neck of an ass." Boulton

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In addition to the scientific discussions and experiments conducted by the group, Boulton had a business relationship with some of the members. Watt and Boulton were partners for a quarter century. Boulton purchased vases from Wedgwood's pottery to be decorated with ormolu, and contemplated a

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From an early age, Boulton had interested himself in the scientific advances of his times. He discarded theories that electricity was a manifestation of the human soul, writing "we know tis matter & tis wrong to call it Spirit". He called such theories "Cymeras of each others Brain". His

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was a major market for the firm's engines. It was mineral-rich and had many mines. However, the special problems for mining there, including local rivalries and high prices for coal, which had to be imported from Wales, forced Watt and later Boulton to spend several months a year in Cornwall

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With the expiry of the patent in 1800 both Boulton and Watt retired from the partnership, each turning over his role to his namesake son. The two sons made changes, quickly ending public tours of the Soho Manufactory in which the elder Boulton had taken pride throughout his time in Soho. In

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began to meet informally in the late 1750s. This evolved into a monthly meeting near the full moon, providing light to journey home afterwards, a pattern common for clubs in Britain at the time. The group eventually dubbed itself the "Lunar Society", and following the death of member Dr

3305: 656:, which had a jewel-like gleam. Boulton and Wedgwood were friends, alternately co-operating and competing, and Wedgwood wrote of Boulton, "It doubles my courage to have the first Manufacturer in England to encounter with—The match likes me well—I like the Man, I like his spirit." 604:, but ceramic proved unable to bear the weight of the decorations and Boulton chose marble and other decorative stone as the material for his vases. Boulton copied vase designs from classical Greek works and borrowed works of art from collectors, merchants, and sculptors. 1105:

political and social ideals. Its members were brilliant representatives of the informal scientific web which cut across class, blending the inherited skills of craftsmen with the theoretical advances of scholars, a key factor in Britain's leap ahead of the rest of Europe.

822:, Sydney, Australia). As a demonstration, Boulton used two engines to grind wheat at the rate of 150 bushels per hour in his new Albion Mill in London. While the mill was not financially successful, according to historian Jenny Uglow it served as a "publicity stunt 826:" for the firm's latest innovation. Before its 1791 destruction by fire, the mill's fame, according to early historian Samuel Smiles, "spread far and wide", and orders for rotative engines poured in not only from Britain but from the United States and the West Indies. 404:

and buckles. Frenchman Alexander Missen wrote that while he had seen excellent cane heads, snuff boxes and other metal objects in Milan, "the same can be had cheaper and better in Birmingham". These small objects came to be known as "toys", and their manufacturers as

763:, which consumed large amounts of coal and, as mines became deeper, proved incapable of keeping them clear of water. Watt's work was well known, and a number of mines that needed engines put off purchasing them in the hope that Watt would soon market his invention. 866:

copper tokens that approximated the size of the halfpenny, struck on behalf of merchants. Boulton struck millions of these merchant pieces. On the rare occasions when the Royal Mint did strike coins, they were relatively crude, with quality control nonexistent.

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either to pump water back up to the millpond or to drive equipment directly would help to provide the necessary power. He began to correspond with Watt in 1766, and first met him two years later. In 1769 Watt patented an engine with the innovation of a separate

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as part of his industrial plant. The mint included eight steam-driven presses, each striking between 70 and 84 coins per minute. The firm had little immediate success getting a licence to strike British coins, but was soon engaged in striking coins for the

400:. The resultant thin iron sheets were transported to factories in and around Birmingham. With the town far from the sea and great rivers, and with canals not yet built, metalworkers concentrated on producing small, relatively valuable pieces, especially 429:

The elder Boulton's business prospered after young Matthew's birth, and the family moved to the Snow Hill area of Birmingham, then a well-to-do neighbourhood of new houses. As the local grammar school was in disrepair Boulton was sent to an academy in

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of keeping a large amount of capital tied up in the inventory of silver. The firm continued to make large quantities of Sheffield plate, but Boulton delegated responsibility for this enterprise to trusted subordinates, involving himself little in it.

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The union was opposed by Anne's brother Luke, who feared Boulton would control (and possibly dissipate) much of the Robinson family fortune. In 1764 Luke Robinson died, and his estate passed to his sister Anne and thus into Matthew Boulton's control.

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Society, membership in which was mandatory. The firm's apprentices were poor or orphaned boys, trainable into skilled workmen; he declined to hire the sons of gentlemen as apprentices, stating that they would be "out of place" among the poorer boys.

282:, which were a great advance on the state of the art, making possible the mechanisation of factories and mills. Boulton applied modern techniques to the minting of coins, striking millions of pieces for Britain and other countries, and supplying the 3928: 1072:

in 1775, who had informally co-ordinated communication between the members, Boulton took steps to put the Society on a formal footing. They met on Sundays, beginning with dinner at 2 pm, and continuing with discussions until at least 8.

3311: 1040:, the leading experimenter in electricity, journeyed to Birmingham during one of his lengthy stays in Britain; Boulton met him, and introduced him to his friends. Boulton worked with Franklin in efforts to contain electricity within a 293:, he was the son of a Birmingham manufacturer of small metal products who died when Boulton was 31. By then Boulton had managed the business for several years, and thereafter expanded it considerably, consolidating operations at the 1056:, another fellow enthusiast who became a member of the Lunar Society, wrote to him in 1763, "As you are now become a sober plodding Man of Business, I scarcely dare trouble you to do me a favour in the ... philosophical way." 679:

would damage his water supply, but this did not prove to be the case, and in 1779 he wrote, "Our navigation goes on prosperously; the junction with the Wolverhampton Canal is complete, and we already sail to Bristol and to Hull."

332:. The Society met each month near the full moon. Members of the Society have been given credit for developing concepts and techniques in science, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport that laid the groundwork for the 375:

Birmingham had long been a centre of the ironworking industry. In the early 18th century the town entered a period of expansion as iron working became easier and cheaper with the transition (beginning in 1709) from charcoal to

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found them to be "perfect and beautifully polished". The high-technology Soho Mint gained increasing and somewhat unwelcome attention: rivals attempted industrial espionage, while lobbying for Boulton's mint to be shut down.

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After the death of his father in 1759, Boulton took full control of the family toymaking business. He spent much of his time in London and elsewhere, promoting his wares. He arranged for a friend to present a sword to

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of the wages of the poor people they employ. They purchase from the subterraneous coiners 36 shillings'-worth of copper (in nominal value) for 20 shillings, so that the profit derived from the cheating is very large.

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when the diarist toured Soho, "I sell here, sir, what all the world desires to have—POWER." The development of an efficient steam engine allowed large-scale industry to be developed, and the industrial city, such as

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in 1774, and later wrote that having a theatre encouraged well-to-do visitors to come to Birmingham, and to spend more money than they would have otherwise. Boulton attempted to have the theatre recognised as a

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original patent had elapsed, but thanks to Boulton's lobbying Parliament passed an act extending Watt's patent until 1800. Boulton and Watt began work improving the engine. With the assistance of iron master

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With capital accumulated from his two marriages and his inheritance from his father, Boulton sought a larger site to expand his business. In 1761 he leased 13 acres (5.3 ha) at Soho, then just in

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in Birmingham. The silver toys long made by the family firm were generally too light to require assaying, but heavier items had to be sent over 70 miles (110 km) to the nearest assay office, at

257: 752:, making it far more efficient than earlier engines. Boulton realised not only that this engine could power his manufactory, but also that its production might be a profitable business venture. 874:

to him, he refused them: "I will do anything, short of being a common informer against particular persons, to stop the malpractices of the Birmingham coiners." In 1788 he established the

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postage stamp. On 17 October 2014 a bronze memorial plaque to Boulton was unveiled in the Chapel of St Paul, Westminster Abbey, beside the plaque to his business partner James Watt.

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the coins weigh one and two ounces respectively, bringing the intrinsic value of the coins close to their face value. Boulton made efforts to frustrate counterfeiters. Designed by

271:; 3 September 1728 – 17 August 1809) was an English businessman, inventor, mechanical engineer, and silversmith. He was a business partner of the Scottish engineer 903:

Boulton offered to strike new coins at a cost "not exceeding half the expense which the common copper coin hath always cost at his Majesty's Mint". He wrote to his friend, Sir

1652: 1015:& possessed all the chemistry that had any relations to the object of his various manufactures. Electricity and astronomy were at one time among his favourite amusements. 1157:

Choral Society, and collaborated with button maker and amateur musical promoter Joseph Moore to put on a series of private concerts in 1799. He maintained a pew at

3487: 1999: 1122:, Boulton conceived of the idea to hold a music festival in Birmingham to raise funds for the hospital. The festival took place in September 1768, the first of 4030: 3446: 1085:

years. In June 1776 Cook left on the voyage on which he was killed almost three years later, and Boulton's records show no further mention of the instrument.

3424: 2675: 453:. Eric Delieb, who wrote a book on Boulton's silver, with a biographical sketch, suggests that the marriage celebrant, Rev. James Penfold, an impoverished 3203: 671:

produced an alloy called "Eldorado metal" that they claimed would not corrode in water and could be used for sheathing wooden ships. After sea trials the

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as a means of smelting iron. Scarcity of wood in increasingly deforested England and discoveries of large quantities of coal in Birmingham's county of

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in buckles that proved so popular that the buckles were exported to France, then reimported to Britain and billed as the latest French developments.

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Baggott, Sally (2009), "'I am very desirous of being a great silversmith': Matthew Boulton and the Birmingham Assay Office", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

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After receiving the patent, Watt did little to develop the engine into a marketable invention, turning to other work. In 1772, Watt's partner, Dr.

667:, he created a process for the mechanical reproduction of paintings for middle-class homes, but eventually abandoned the procedure. Boulton and 623:

Fothergill and others searched Europe for designs for these creations. In March 1770 Boulton visited the Royal Family and sold several vases to

472:, broadly educated and also a man of science, gained some fame posthumously for his invention of the important aeronautical flight control, the 3394: 2330: 806:, who was able to take over the management of most of the on-site installation problems, allowing Watt and Boulton to remain in Birmingham. 579:, whose silversmiths had faced similar difficulties in transporting their wares. The silver business proved not to be profitable due to the 4035: 3980: 3965: 1100:

there were no minutes of meetings, few details of the gatherings remain. Historian Jenny Uglow wrote of the lasting impact of the Society:

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Boulton never had any formal schooling in science. His associate and fellow Lunar Society member James Keir eulogised him after his death:

501: 928:, or blank coins, to be struck by national mints elsewhere. The firm sent over 20 million blanks to Philadelphia, to be struck into 2023: 1257:, which also lodged in the bladder, causing him great pain. He died at Soho House on 17 August 1809. He was buried in the graveyard of 4020: 2622: 1642: 887: 313:. The firm installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines in Britain and abroad, initially in mines and then in factories. 3911: 3735:

Symons, David (2009), "'Bringing to Perfection the Art of Coining': What did they make at the Soho Mint?", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

1465: 652:, for which Wedgwood's firm remains well known. The mounts of these articles, many of which have survived, were made of ormolu or 4015: 3975: 3970: 891: 305:, was unable to pay a debt to Boulton, who accepted Roebuck's share of Watt's patent as settlement. He then successfully lobbied 1153:

with a Royal Patent, entitled to present serious drama; he failed in 1779 but succeeded in 1807. He also supported Birmingham's

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partnership with him. Keir was a long-time supplier and associate of Boulton, though Keir never became his partner as he hoped.

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rejected their claims, and the metal was used for fanlights and sash windows at Soho House. Boulton feared that construction of

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Government postponed a decision on recoinage indefinitely. Meanwhile, the Soho Mint struck coins for the East India Company,

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in 1971. He retired in 1800, though continuing to run his mint, and died in 1809. His image appeared alongside his partner

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Among the products Boulton sought to make in his new facility were sterling silver plate for those able to afford it, and

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was named in his honour in 1957. The two-hundredth anniversary of his death, in 2009, resulted in a number of tributes.

723: 1676: 434:, on the other side of Birmingham. At the age of 15 he left school, and by 17 he had invented a technique for inlaying 1261:, in Birmingham—the church was later extended over the site of his grave. Inside the church, on the north wall of the 1196:, believing it justified, though he expressed his horror at the bloody excesses of the Revolutionary government. When 1781: 1059:

The Birmingham enthusiasts, including Boulton, Whitehurst, Keir, Darwin, Watt (after his move to Birmingham), potter

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The Lunar Society of Birmingham: A Social History of Provincial Science and Industry in Eighteenth-Century England

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for his needs, especially in the summer when the millstream's flow was greatly reduced. He realised that using a

3359: 3939: 3187: 933: 782: 768: 563:-stamped sections, which were shaped and joined together. One impediment to Boulton's work was the lack of an 301:("gilt bronze") and other decorative arts. He became associated with James Watt when Watt's business partner, 4000: 1181: 1019: 205: 3889:

An Early Experiment in Industrial Organisation: Being a History of the Firm of Boulton & Watt, 1775–1805

520:, and a rolling mill. Soho House was at first occupied by Boulton relatives, and then by his first partner, 1192:

proved successful, he resumed trade with the former colonies. He was more sympathetic to the cause of the

388:

speeded the transition. Much of the iron was forged in small foundries near Birmingham, especially in the

1127: 535:, later decrying what he saw as the "idle beggarly" condition of the people who had used it. By 1765 his 521: 417: 221: 199: 36: 1219:

When Boulton was widowed in 1783 he was left with the care of his two teenage children. Neither his son

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Boulton spent much time in London lobbying for a contract to strike British coins, but in June 1790 the

297:, built by him near Birmingham. At Soho, he adopted the latest techniques, branching into silver plate, 3871:

Industrial Enlightenment: Science, Technology and Culture in Birmingham and the West Midlands 1760–1820

1647: 1197: 1189: 880: 469: 320:, a group of Birmingham-area men prominent in the arts, sciences, and theology. Members included Watt, 185: 3638:

Loggie, Val (2009), "Picturing Soho: Images of Matthew Boulton's Manufactory", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

1626:

Kinzer, Bruce (1 May 2009). "Flying Under The Radar: The Strange Case Of Matthew Piers Watt Boulton".

1096:. According to Whitehurst, who wrote to congratulate Boulton, not a single vote was cast against him. 971: 965:, and was awarded a contract at the end of the month. According to a proclamation dated 26 July 1797, 1313: 1237:

Boulton helped deal with the shortage of silver, persuading the Government to let him overstrike the

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Boulton 1790 Anglesey halfpenny; the first coin struck by steam power in a collar to assure roundness

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overseeing installations and resolving problems with the mineowners. In 1779 the firm hired engineer

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broke out, he paid for weapons for a company of volunteers, sworn to resist any French invasion.

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On 3 March 1749 Boulton married Mary Robinson, a distant cousin and the daughter of a successful

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Mason, Shena (2009), "'The Hôtel d'amitié sur Handsworth Heath': Soho House and the Boultons",

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As part of Boulton's efforts to market to the wealthy, he started to sell vases decorated with

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Boulton is recognised by several memorials and other commemorations in and around Birmingham.

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Quickenden, Kenneth (2009), "Matthew Boulton and the Lunar Society", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

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Further information on the copper pieces struck privately in lieu of Royal Mint issues:

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child and the second of that name, the first Matthew having died at the age of two in 1726.

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Tungate, Sue (2009), "Matthew Boulton's Mints: Copper to Customer", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

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and Anne Boulton. Matthew Robinson in turn had six children with two wives. His eldest son

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promoted "a year-long festival celebrating the life, work and legacy of Matthew Boulton".

8: 2614: 653: 633: 596: 560: 3682:

McLean, Rita (2009), "Introduction: Matthew Boulton, 1728—1809", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

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movements of the planets, and on how to make sealing wax and disappearing ink. However,

3282: 1265:, is a large marble monument to him, commissioned by his son, sculpted by the sculptor 1044:, and when the printer needed new glass for his "glassychord" (a mechanised version of 975: 937: 3874: 3856: 3838: 3813: 3804:

Uglow, Jenny (2009), "Matthew Boulton and the Lunar Society", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

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business, Boulton cared deeply for his family. He wrote to his wife in January 1780,

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By 1786, two-thirds of the coins in circulation in Britain were counterfeit, and the

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In 1776 the partnership erected two engines, one for Wilkinson and one at a mine in

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would become Prime Minister as Earl of Liverpool) on 14 April 1789, Boulton wrote:

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Blue Plaque for Matthew Boulton commemorating his birthplace in Birmingham, England

329: 294: 276: 228: 3942:, Matthew Boulton's home from 1766 till his death in 1809, became a Museum in 1995 2699: 275:. In the final quarter of the 18th century, the partnership installed hundreds of 3100: 2427: 2401: 1680: 1337: 1299:, his home from 1766 until his death, is now a museum, as is his first workshop, 1238: 1172:

words to describe. In the grand Halleluja my soul almost ascended from my body."

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large stock on its hands, and disposed of much of it in a single massive sale to

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to extend Watt's patent for an additional 17 years, enabling the firm to market

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at his Steelhouse Lane birthplace and at Soho House. A gilded bronze statue of

1242: 1150: 1053: 941: 416:, his great-great-great-great-grandfather, Rev. Zachary Babington, having been 321: 2669: 1188:

urging the government to adopt a firmer stance with the Americans—though when

3949: 3668:, pp. 14–21 (other text not part of a contribution also credited here), 3527:

Andrew, Jim (2009), "The Soho Steam Engine Business", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

3518: 2679:(online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. ref:odnb/70352. 1318: 1300: 1254: 1118:

had long sought to build a hospital in the town. A great fan of the music of

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Boulton was widely involved in civic activities in Birmingham. His friend Dr

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The coin crisis in Britain continued. In a letter to the Master of the Mint,

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with an English design. The Bank had attempted to circulate the dollars by

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The national financial crisis reached its nadir in February 1797, when the

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Not all of Boulton's innovations proved successful. Together with painter

591:, previously a French speciality. Ormolu was milled gold (from the French 3779: 3622:

Coincraft's 2000 Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date

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Goodison, Nicholas (2009), "Ormolu Ornaments", in Mason, Shena (ed.),

1262: 1133: 875: 811: 785:, as depicted on a 1793 halfpenny token struck by Boulton's Soho Mint 576: 532: 413: 393: 340: 1023:

Matthew Boulton, c. 1775 (detail), National Portrait Gallery, London

476:. As his father before him, he also had two wives and six children. 1208: 1154: 925: 798: 641: 572: 431: 1634: 3365: 2471:

Rodgers, Kerry (May 2009), "Boulton father of mechanized press",

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interest brought him into contact with other enthusiasts such as

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Boulton & Fothergill Sheffield plate beer tankard, late 1760s

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had been erected. The warehouse, or "principal building", had a

1385:

Spelled "Murdock" in Andrew, but more commonly spelled Murdoch.

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Among Boulton's most successful products were mounts for small

588: 551:

Boulton & Fothergill church flagon in sterling silver, 1774

498:, the future King George III, that he ordered one for himself. 454: 401: 298: 1253:

By early 1809 he was seriously ill. He had long suffered from

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The Lunar Men: Five Friends Whose Curiosity Changed the World

2327:"The Boulton and Watt engine – Powerhouse Museum description" 1900: 1898: 1277: 1092:

In 1785 both Boulton and Watt were elected as Fellows of the

1032:, who also became a member of the Lunar Society. In 1758 the 978:

who was the banker and business advisor to Watt and Boulton.

3933: 1871: 1813: 1811: 775:), they succeeded in making the engine commercially viable. 3298: 2667:

Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004).

2220: 2218: 2216: 1161:, a centre of musical excellence. When performances of the 999: 985:

Watt, in his eulogy after Boulton's death in 1809, stated:

237: 3408: 2191: 2189: 1895: 648:

brooches and buttons in the distinctive ceramics, notably

547: 3154: 3152: 1847: 1808: 1758: 1756: 1754: 1752: 494:, and the gift so interested the Prince's older brother, 449:

common law. Nonetheless, they married on 25 June 1760 at

3936:, celebrating Matthew Boulton, his mint and its products 3053: 3051: 3049: 3022: 2962: 2940: 2938: 2925: 2923: 2921: 2919: 2917: 2902: 2890: 2594: 2592: 2590: 2588: 2539: 2537: 2535: 2357: 2213: 2152: 2150: 2125: 2123: 2121: 2096: 2094: 2043: 1683:, PeterBarker.plus.com website. Retrieved 30 April 2013. 1666: 1428: 1426: 1424: 1422: 1420: 1347:

In March 2009, Boulton was honoured with the issue of a

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1760 (courtesy of Northeast Regional Button Association)

2868: 2866: 2486: 2484: 2482: 2406:(reprint ed.), Taylor & Francis, p. 337, 2309: 2307: 2305: 2254: 2242: 2186: 1970: 1934: 1922: 102:

Businessman, inventor, mechanical engineer, silversmith

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Matthew Boulton Scientist, Philanthropist and Engineer

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announced that Boulton and Watt would appear on a new

1180:, providing money for weapons. In 1794 he was elected 3063: 3046: 3034: 3010: 2998: 2986: 2974: 2950: 2935: 2914: 2878: 2839: 2754: 2718: 2706: 2585: 2573: 2561: 2549: 2532: 2369: 2345: 2290: 2278: 2266: 2147: 2118: 2106: 2091: 2055: 1958: 1910: 1859: 1796: 1737: 1619: 1522: 1520: 1417: 264: 3379: 2863: 2730: 2648: 2636: 2508: 2479: 2381: 2302: 2230: 2201: 2174: 2162: 2135: 2079: 2067: 1946: 1883: 1823: 1713: 1607: 1571: 1080:

was active in it. In 1768 Banks sailed with Captain

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While not a formal member of the Lunar Society, Sir

907:, describing the advantages of his coinage presses: 243: 240: 234: 3806: