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Thomas Newcomen
Thomas Newcomen was an English inventor and engineer. He invented the atmospheric steam engine. The engine had an internal condensing jet, which was improved on by James Watt. He invented this engine to reduce the cost and hardship of using horses as power for hard labor. The engine increased efficiency for all factory work. -
John Wesley
In 1743, John Wesley published Rules for the Methodist Societies.He traveled as a preacher to promote the growth of religion in new societies. Most clergymen were dissenting to his beliefs and opinions, he searched for loyal men to work with him. The majority of Wesley's preachers went to the American colonies, and some returned back to England. The Bishop of London would not ordain some of his preachers to preach in the United States colonies, he did it himself. -
Samuel Crompton
Samuel Crompton was a British inventor of a machine called the spinning mule, or the spinning jenny. This invention pioneered large scale manufacturing of high quality thread and yarn to factories and consumers. The spinning mule could also be powered by the newly invented steam engines. He sold the rights to factories, and made no money off of his invention. -
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was a Welsh investor. He encouraged and funded many experimental "utopian" societies. In New Lanark, one of the communities created by him, there were 2,000 residents. Many of them were young children that came from poor households. Robert Owen improved their living situations and enforced the ideas of thrift, order, and cleanliness. He focused especially on the education of young children.The schools emphasized teaching on the arts more than traditional subjects. -
James Watt
James Scott was a Scottish engineer and instrument maker. He created a steam engine that got him elected into the Royal Society in 1785. He created what is known as The Watt Engine while repairing the Newcomen Steam Engine. He improved the model by finding a way for the engine to run with significantly less heat loss. This affected the efficiency of the engine and compelled James Watt to invent his own. -
Jeremy Bentham
In 1789, Jeremy Bentham published a book called "Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation". In this book, he wrote about how mankind was motivated by two things, pain and pleasure. The book quotes that "property in any object whereby it tends to produce pleasure, good or happiness, or to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil or unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered". His fame appeared rapidly after his works became known. -
Nicolas LeBlanc
Nicolas LeBlanc was a French chemist and surgeon who discovered a process of making soda ash from salt. The process is called the LeBlanc Process. In the process, salt was treated with sulfuric acid to obtain sodium sulfate. The sodium sulfate was roasted with chalk, limestone, or coal to produce a black ash. This ash consisted mostly of sodium carbonate and calcium sulfide. The carbonate was then dissolved into water and crystallized. This discovery was essential to modern day chemistry. -
Alessandro Volta
Allesandro Volta was an Italian physicist. He invented the electric battery, which was the first source of a continuous current. His battery was composed of what is now known as the Voltaic Pile, or Voltaic Column, zinc and silver discs, separated in paper or cloth soaked in salt water or sodium hydroxide.This was the first example of an electric current that did not need to be recharged. This invention led to later advances and improvements to modern energy. -
Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton brought steam boats to their commercial success from experimental stages. He designed a system of inland waterways, a submarine, and steam warships. In 1797, he moved to Paris from Pennsylvania to propose the idea of a submarine, to be used in the war against Britain. He was provided backing from the French government, but was ultimately unsuccessful in its contribution to the war. -
David Ricardo
David Ricardo created an essay called "Essay on the Influence of a Low Price of Corn on the Profits of Stock". He founded the law of diminishing marginal returns, one of the most famous laws in economics. It states that as more labor and machinery are used on a fixed amount of land, the additions to output will diminish. -
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was a British engineer and inventor of the railroad locomotive. This invention would forever change society. He began working on a railroad system, building from Stockton to Darlington. He also built a steam engine locomotive for the railway system. This locomotive carried around 450 people and traveled up to 15 miles per hour. This invention sparked interest from Manchester and Liverpool, where he was commissioned to to similar work there. -
Karl Marx
Published "Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei", more well known as the Communist Manifesto, with Friedrich Engels. The Manifesto was the most celebrated in history from the socialist movement. He also wrote Das Kapital. Marx and Engles' works were the basis of a belief called Marxism.
