The Industrial Revolution By trevor.brand-jones Jan 1, 1694 The Bank of England Is Established Feb 1, 1709 Abraham Darby develops a blast furnace capable of producing high-quality iron Feb 1, 1712 Thomas Newcombe develops the first practical steam engine Feb 1, 1730 -1780 The invention of new and larger spinning and weaving machines shifts the textile industry into factories Feb 1, 1750 Enclosures of farming land accelerate in Britain Feb 1, 1769 James Watt invents a steam engine capable of providing continuous power Feb 1, 1779 Samuel Crompton invents the spinning mule Feb 1, 1783 Henry Cort’s ‘puddling’ process further improves the quality of iron products The United States of America is born when the American colonies win independence from Britain Feb 1, 1788 First British fleet arrives at Botany Bay (Sydney) Feb 1, 1789 The Boulton and Watt steam engine is first used in textiles factories Feb 1, 1789 The French Revolution begins Feb 1, 1801 The first official population census is taken in Britain Mar 11, 1803 British found the new colony of Van Diemen’s land (Tasmania) Mar 17, 1803 The first working steam locomotive train, known as Puffing Billy, is built Mar 17, 1825 The first English public steam railway (from Stockton to Darlington) is opened Mar 17, 1830 Railway building begins in France and Germany Mar 17, 1842 Samuel Morse develops the single wire telegraph Mar 17, 1851 Australia’s gold rush begins Mar 17, 1876 Alexander Graham Bell patents the first telephone Mar 17, 1879 Thomas Edison invents the first reliable electric light bulb Mar 17, 1889 Eiffel Tower completed in Paris, France Mar 17, 1903 Wright brothers invent modern flight Mar 17, 1913 Henry Ford mass produces the Model T Ford automobile
