-
Industrial Revolution begins
Industrial Revolution begins in Great Britain. -
The Flying Shuttle
The flying shuttle was one of the key developments in the industrialization of weaving during the early Industrial Revolution. It allowed a single weaver to weave much wider fabrics, and it could be mechanized, allowing for automatic machine looms. -
Spinning Jenny
James Hargreaves invents the spinning jenny allowing a worker to produce multiple spools of thread at the same time. -
Water Frame
Richard Arkwright invented the water frame which could attach the spinning machine to a water wheel, strengthening cotton to provide stronger fabric to the textile industry. -
Spinning Mule
The spinning mule is invented by Samuel Crompton. -
Watt's Steam Engine
James Watt patents an improved steam engine making it useful as a power source in factories and other applications such as steam boats and trains. -
Power Loom
The first power loom was designed in 1784 by Edmund Cartwright and first built in 1785. It was refined over the next 47 years until made completely automatic.
By 1850 there were 260,000 power looms in operation in England. -
Industrial Revolution Spreads to the USA
1793 - The Industrial Revolution spreads to the USA when Samuel Slater opens the first textile mill in Rhode Island. -
Cotton Gin
Meaning "cotton engine" – a Cotton Gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, enabling much improved productivity comapred with manual separation.
Cotton fibres are then processed into calico, while undamaged cotton is used largely for textiles like clothing. Separated cotton seeds may be used to grow more cotton or to produce cotton seed oil. -
Cotton overtakes wool
Cotton becomes Britain’s biggest export, overtaking wool. -
Fulton's Steamboat
Robert Fulton starts the first successful steamboat operation with his boat "Clermont".
The Clermont was nicknamed "Fulton's Folly" by doubters.
On Monday, 17 August 1807, the memorable first voyage of the Clermont up the Hudson River was begun, travelling 150 miles (240 km) to Albany in approximately 32 hours, making the return trip in about eight hours. -
Erie Canal (USA) opens
The Erie Canal is completed -
Mechanical Reaper
The mechanical reaper is invented by Cyrus McCormick. -
John Deere's Steel Plow
1837 - blacksmith John Deere invents the steel plow. -
Telegraph
Samuel Morse invents the Telegraph. This changes the way people can communicate from long distances, enabling information to travel faster than horseback. -
Vulcanised Rubber
Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanized rubber, a process that improves rubber elasticity and strength by heating it in the presence of sulfur. -
Rural > Urban migration
Over half the population of Britain now residing in towns. -
The Otis Elevator
Elisha Otis invents a safety break for elevators, demonstrated at the 1852 New York World's Fair - automatically stopping if the hoisting rope breaks. making them practical and safe for the first time. This allows for tall buildings and skyscrapers to be built. -
Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell invents the Telephone, enabling voice transmission. -
Incandescent Light Bulb
Thomas Edison invents the first practical incandescent light bulb. It will allow factories to remain open after dark. -
Electric Power Station
The first modern electrical power station is completed to provide power to central London.
