Matthew Boulton – 2009 the year of celebration

An image from the new site celebrating Boulton

Matthew Boulton was born in Birmingham in September 1728, the son of a buckle-, button- and ‘toy’-maker. ‘Birmingham toys’ were not children’s playthings, but small decorative objects such as snuff boxes, toothpick cases, nutmeg graters and other trinkets.

It is 200 years since the death of one of Birmingham’s key industrialists, indeed one of the fathers of the industrial revolution.

This new website from Birmingham City Council celebrates his contribution. Besides his direct industrial impact they register that:

The canal network which threads its way through our countryside and cities, is a legacy of the faith of the generation of early canal investors like Matthew Boulton, who wanted to improve transport links and achieved the extraordinary feat of making Birmingham the most landlocked port in Britain.

Great man, great website.  Thanks to Pete Milington.