Josiah Wedgwood not only transformed the manufacture of pottery and the methods of its distribution but also revolutionised industry generally. He originated mass-production to increase efficiency and reduce waste, thus providing a product that more people could afford, and pioneered techniques of salesmanship, attracting the custom of royalty and maintaining the same high standard in all his ware. He treated his employees with benevolence, introducing unprecedented methods of management. Despite having a leg amputated at the prime of life, Wedgwood nonetheless continued to devote his attention to his diverse interests and to the industry of which he was the founding father.
About the author
Richard Tames is the originator of the Lifelines series. He read history at Cambridge, took a Master's degree in politics at London and teaches for Syracuse University. He is the author of more than sixty titles, and is a qualified 'Blue Badge' tourist guide.
Other titles for Shire by this author are:
William Morris (see above)
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (see above)
The Victorian Public House