Key Events of the Industrial Revolution By courtney-anne.jon.00@tased.edu.au Feb 26, 1712 Thomas Newcomen built the first steam engine Feb 26, 1761 Britain’s first canal was opened Feb 26, 1771 The first cotton spinning factory was opened The Cotton Industry Feb 26, 1779 The first steam powered mill began operation Feb 26, 1782 Matthew Boulton and James Watt patented the first rotary steam engine Matthew Boulton and James Watt patented the first rotary steam engine Feb 26, 1801 Richard Trevithick demonstrated the first steam locomotive Richard Trevithick demonstrated the first steam locomotive Feb 26, 1803 When Tasmania (Van Dieman's Land) was established as a British Colony Feb 26, 1811 The ‘Luddites’ began to destroy machines Feb 26, 1825 Britain’s first passenger steam railway was opened Feb 26, 1831 The first great cholera epidemic Feb 26, 1833 Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire Feb 26, 1834 Henry Fox Talbot produced the first photograph Feb 26, 1837 When Charles Dickens wrote 'Oliver Twist' Feb 26, 1842 When Sheffield was discovered When Sheffield was established Feb 26, 1876 Telephone invented Feb 26, 1879 Thomas Edison invents the lightbulb Feb 26, 1880 Compulsory education for all children is introduced Feb 26, 1880 Federation of Australia Federation of Australia Feb 26, 1883 First skyscraper was built in Chicago Feb 26, 1885 Karl Benz invented the first automobile Feb 26, 1888 Heinrich Hertz produced radio waves Feb 26, 1889 Wireless radio invented Mar 31, 1889 When the Eiffel Tower was finished When the Eiffel Tower was finished Feb 26, 1903 Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered flight Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered flight Feb 26, 1914 Outbreak of World War I
