Josiah Wedgwood

The point about Wedgwood as a pioneer industrialist was his endless pursuit of quality and innovation, whether in manufacture, design or social care. His close friend Darwin collaborated on several ventures and suggested the name ‘Etruria’ for his new factory. He funded his friend Priestley’s experiments, helped Beddoes with his Pneumatic Institute and Stubbs with his enamelled paintings, and was prompted by Flaxman to copy a historic vase. His friend Franklin praised his abolitionist medallions. Banks got him clay from Australia and corresponded about his innovative pyrometer, while Lavoisier enquired about high-temperature crucibles.