Produced by Eric Hutton. HTML version by Al Haines. MEN OF INVENTION AND INDUSTRY by Samuel Smiles "Men there have been, ignorant of letters; without art, without eloquence; who yet had the wisdom to devise and the courage to perform that which they lacked language to explain. Such men have worked the deliverance of nations and their own greatness. Their hearts are their books; events are their tutors; great actions are their eloquence."--MACAULAY. Contents. Preface CHAPTER I Phineas Pett: Beginnings of English Shipbuilding CHAPTER II Francis Pettit Smith: Practical Introducer of the Screw Propeller CHAPTER III John Harrison: Inventor of the Marine Chronometer CHAPTER IV John Lombe: Introducer of the Silk Industry into England CHAPTER V William Murdock: His Life and Inventions CHAPTER VI Frederick Koenig: Inventor of the Steam-printing Machine CHAPTER VII The Walters of 'The Times': Inventor of the Walter Press CHAPTER VIII William Clowes: Book-printing by Steam CHAPTER IX Charles Bianconi: A Lesson of Self-Help in Ireland CHAPTER X Industry in Ireland: Through Connaught and Ulster to Belfast CHAPTER XI Shipbuilding in Belfast: By Sir E. J. Harland, Engineer and Shipbuilder CHAPTER XII Astronomers and students in humble life: A new Chapter in the 'Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties' PREFACE I offer this book as a continuation of the memoirs of men of invention and industry published some years ago in the 'Lives of Engineers,' 'Industrial Biography,' and 'Self-Help.' The early chapters relate to the history of a very important branch of British industry--that of Shipbuilding. A later chapter, kindly prepared by Sir Edward J. Harland, of Belfast, relates to the origin and progress of shipbuilding in Ireland. Many of the facts set forth in the Life and Inventions of William Murdock have already been published in my 'Lives of Boulton and Watt;' but these are now placed in a continuous narrative, and supplemented by other information, more particularly the correspondence between Watt and Murdock, communicated to me by the present representative of the family, Mr. Murdock, C.E., of Gilwern, near Abergavenny. I have also endeavoured to give as accurate an account as possible of the Invention of the Steam-printing Press, and its application to the production of Newspapers and Books,--an invention certainly of great importance to the spread of knowledge, science, and literature, throughout the world. The chapter on the "Industry of Ireland" will speak for itself. It occurred to me, on passing through Ireland last year, that much remained to be said on that subject; and, looking to the increasing means of the country, and the well-known industry of its people, it seems reasonable to expect, that with peace, security, energy, and diligent labour of head and hand, there is really a great future before Ireland.