Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
Below is a sampling of innovations and inventors from the 18th century. Read the name of each inventor and their corresponding innovation. Consider how the innovation has influenced the transformation of the world’s economy and society from agricultural to current day. Can you see how many of these inventions have become the foundation for today’s commercial operations?
1701: Jethro Tull invents the seed drill.
1722: French C. Hopffer patents the fire extinguisher.
1761: Englishmen John Harrison invents the navigational clock, or marine chronometer, for measuring longitude.
1775: Jacques Perrier invents a steamship.
1783: Englishmen Henry Cort invents the steel roller for steel production.
1784: Joseph Bramah invents the safety lock.
1786: John Fitch invents the steamboat.
1791: John Barber invents the gas turbine.
1795: Francois Appert invents a preserving jar for food.
1799: Alessandro Volta invents the battery; Louis Robert invents the Fourdrinier Machine for sheet papermaking.
INSIGHT: A paper machine (or paper-making machine) is industrial equipment used in the pulp and paper industry to produce large quantities of paper at high speed. Modern paper-making machines are based on the principles of the Fourdrinier Machine.
List of inventors and inventions extracted from Bellis, Mary. “Inventions and Inventors of the 18th Century.” ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/18th-century-timeline-1992474. Invention descriptions extracted from en.wikipedia.org