WILKINSON, JOHN (1728-1808), "the great Staffordshire iron-master," was born at Clifton, Cumberland, where his father was overlooker in an iron furnace. A box-iron, patented by his father, but said to have been invented by the son, which helped laundresses to gratify the frilled taste of the dandies of the day, was the beginning of their fortunes. This they made at Black barrow, near Furness. When he was about twenty, John moved to Staffordshire, and built, at Bilston, the first furnace there, and, after many experiments, succeeded in utilizing coal instead of wood-charcoal in the puddling and smelting of iron. The father, who now had works at Bersham, near Chester, was again joined by his son, who constructed a new boring machine, of an accuracy heretofore unequalled. James Watt found that the work of this machine exactly filled his requirements for his "fire-engine" for cylinders bored with greater precision. Wilkinson, who by this time owned the Bersham works, now started the manufacture of wrought iron on a large scale at Broseley, and used the first steam-engine made by Boulton and Watt to blow the bellows there. His neighbours in the business, who were contemplating installing Newcomen engines, waited to see how the Wilkinson.
steam-engine would work. Great care was taken in its manu facture, and Watt himself set it up early in 1776. Its success made the reputation of Boulton and Watt in the Midland coun ties. Wilkinson now found he had the power alike for the nicest and for the most stupendous operations. The steam cylinder sug gested to him the plan of producing blast now in use. He was near coal; he surrounded himself with capable men, whom he fully trusted; he made a good article, and soon obtained large orders. In 1786 he was making 32-pounders, howitzers, swivels, mortars and shells for the government. The difficulty of getting barges to carry his war material down the Severn led him, in 1787, to construct the first iron barge—creating a wonderful sensa tion among owners and builders. Wilkinson taught the French the art of boring cannon from the solid, and cast all the tubes, cylinders and iron work required for the Paris water-works, the most formidable undertaking of the day. He also erected, in connection with these works, the first steam-engine in France.
Wilkinson also designed and cast the first iron bridge, which connected Broseley and Madeley, across the Severn. He died or July 14, 18o8.