Boulton's Bicentenary in 2009: The man himself

On the 17th August 2009 a wreath laying ceremony was held to commemorate the death of Matthew Boulton. Marion Roberts, Chairman of the Lunar Society, Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Chaudhry Rashid, Birmingham City Council and Michael Allchin, CE and Master of Birmingham Assay Office joined in laying wreaths at the statue of Matthew Boulton on Broad Street.

Picture - kind permission of BPM Media ( Midlands)

Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) arguably instigated Birmingham's international renown for nurturing innovation, aspiration and industry.

During his lifetime he was a world-famous figure. Since the 20th century, however, his name has been largely overshadowed by that of his business partner, James Watt. But without Boulton's entrepreneurial vision, drive and ambition it is unlikely Watt would have fulfilled his potential as an engineer and inventor. Together, they pushed the technological boundaries of their time and it was Matthew Boulton that enabled Britain to occupy centre-stage as the world's first industrial nation, something which has shaped all our lives since.

What makes Matthew Boulton's story so remarkably accessible is that all of his personal papers are preserved here in Birmingham. From the hundreds of letters and notebooks emerges an attractive and engaging character, a one-time buttonmaker who was as welcome at the Court of King George III as he was at the fireside of his friends.

2009 marks the bicenentary of his death, providing us with the opportunity to celebrate his historical significance, and raise his profile and achievements to a wide audience regionally, nationally and internationally. For more information about the 2009 celebrations, see here.

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