CHAPTER XVI.

WILLIAM FAIRBAIRN.

Summary of progress in machine-tools

William Fairbairn's early years

His education

Life in the Highlands

Begins work at Kelso Bridge

An apprentice at Percy Main Colliery, North Shields

Diligent self-culture

Voyage to London

Adventures

Prevented obtaining work by the Millwrights' Union

Travels into the country, finds work, and returns to London

His first order, to make a sausage-chopping machine

Wanderschaft

Makes nail-machinery for a Dublin employer

Proceeds to Manchester, where he settles and marries

Begins business

His first job

Partnership with Mr. Lillie

Employed by Messrs. Adam Murray and Co.

Employed by Messrs. MacConnel and Kennedy

Progress of the Cotton Trade

Memoir of John Kennedy

Mr. Fairbairn introduces great improvements in the gearing, &c.

of mill machinery

Increasing business Improvements in water-wheels

Experiments as to the law of traction of boats

Begins building iron ships

Experiments on the strength of wrought iron

Britannia and Conway Tubular Bridges

Reports on iron

On boiler explosions

Iron construction

Extended use of iron

Its importance in civilization

Opinion of Mr. Cobden

Importance of modern machine-tools

Conclusion