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Abraham Darby
Abraham Darby was the inventor of sand casting. Sand casting, also known as modeling casting, is the process of using sand as a mold material for metal. Sand casting is important for molding metal like titanium, since it has such a high melting point. -
Thomas Newcomen
Thomas Newcomen invented the atmospheric engine. The atmospheric engine was the first fuel burning engine in the year 1712. The engine was operated by condensing steam drawn into the cylinder, thereby creating a partial vacuum which allowed the atmospheric pressure to push the piston into the cylinder. -
James Watt
James Watt is another man from the time period included in the invention of the steam engine. Watt went to Glasgow University, where he was asked to better design the steam engine, the one newcomen invented. His name is now recognisable with the steam engine, along with Newcomen and Stephens. -
Edmund Cartwright
Edmund Cartwright was the inventor of the power loom. After seeing the spinning machines Cartwright thought that he could make something similar for weaving and so was inspired to create a machine called the power loom.He began working on the designs of the machine in 1784 and fully built it in 1785. -
Nicolas LeBlanc
Nicolas LeBlanc was a French chemist and surgeon who invented soda ash from table salt. Extracted at that time by crude methods from wood or seaweed ashes, soda ash was used in making paper, glass, soap, and porcelain; if these industries were to expand, a cheaper process was needed. This process, which bears his name, became one of the most important industrial-chemical processes of the 19th century. -
Alessandro Volta
Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery. After experimenting with a frog leg, Volt discovered that two metals when in contact with a muscle will create an electrical current. The term "volt" comes from his name. -
Eli Whitney
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1794. The cotton gin was a way for slaves at the time to clean the cotton from seed and dirt. This revolutionized the way farming was done. -
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was the first person to make use of American Sea Island cotton. Owens improved the way that cotton was spun in Britain. He also had a model textile factory in Scotland. -
Jeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham invented the first prison system. At the time of its invention, it was called the panopticon. He at first invented it as a social control mechanism. -
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was known as the "father of railways" after inventing the steam locomotive. The first version was called Stephenson's rocket. It was built for and won the Rainhill Trials of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, held in October 1829 to show that improved locomotives would be more efficient than stationary steam engines. -
Elias Howe
Elias Howe was an American inventor known for creating and the first practical sewing machine in 1846. His invention got little attention, so he moved to england to perfect the machine. When he came back to the united states, he found another man, I.M. Singer was making sewing machines. Howe later got a patent for his invention. -
Karl Marx
After studying law and philosophy in college, Karl Marx came up with the form of a government known as communism. When Marx came up with the idea of communism, he was banished from Germany to London. He was also a founder of the Communist Party of Great Britain.