Lewis Weston Dillwyn
Encyclopedia
Lewis Weston Dillwyn, FRS (21 Aug 1778 – 31 Aug 1855) was a British porcelain manufacturer, naturalist and Member of Parliament.
He was born in Walthamstow
, Essex, the eldest son of William Dillwyn (1743–1824) and Sarah Dillwyn (née Weston). His father, a Pennsylvanian Quaker had returned to Britain in 1777 during Philadelphia's worst period in the American War of Independence and settled at Higham Lodge, Walthamstow, Essex, UK. William Dillwyn was a vociferous anti-slavery campaigner and toured England and S. Wales in his work for the Anti-Slavery Committee. On his tours of S. Wales he arranged to buy the lease of the Cambrian Pottery
, Swansea
, Glamorganshire from George Haynes
, appointing Haynes as manager.
In 1802 Lewis was sent by his father to Swansea to take control of the pottery. Although he had no previous experience of ceramics manufacture, he was enthusiastic and the quality of the pottery made there was improved under his management. In 1814 the pottery took over the workforce of the Nantgarw Pottery
and began to make porcelain
.
Lewis Weston Dillwyn however was also renowned for his published works on botany
and conchology
, including his work The British Confervae an illustrated study of British freshwater algae, published 1809. Dillwyn is credited with discovering several species
of the Conferva genus
. Among the botanical illustrators of The British Confervae are the artists William Jackson Hooker
, Ellen Hutchins
and William Weston Young
. He was elected in 1804 as a Fellow of the Royal Society
In 1817 he retired from the pottery. In 1818 he became High Sheriff of Glamorgan
and was elected to the First Reformed Parliament in 1834 as MP for Glamorganshire. He was Mayor of Swansea in 1839. Dillwyn was also one of the founders of the Royal Institution of South Wales and its first President, and in 1840 he published a short history of Swansea.
He married Mary Adams, the daughter of Colonel John Llewelyn of Penllergaer, Llangyfelach in 1807. They had six children, including the noted photographer John Dillwyn Llewelyn
(1810–1882) and Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn
, who became MP for Swansea.
He died in Sketty Hall, Swansea, in 1855.
.
He was born in Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, Essex, the eldest son of William Dillwyn (1743–1824) and Sarah Dillwyn (née Weston). His father, a Pennsylvanian Quaker had returned to Britain in 1777 during Philadelphia's worst period in the American War of Independence and settled at Higham Lodge, Walthamstow, Essex, UK. William Dillwyn was a vociferous anti-slavery campaigner and toured England and S. Wales in his work for the Anti-Slavery Committee. On his tours of S. Wales he arranged to buy the lease of the Cambrian Pottery
Cambrian Pottery
The Cambrian Pottery was founded in 1764 by William Coles in Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales.In 1790, John Coles, son of the founder, went into partnership with George Haynes, who introduced new business strategies based on the ideas of Josiah Wedgwood....
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Glamorganshire from George Haynes
George Haynes
George Haynes , British entrepreneur, pottery manufacturer, banker, and newspaper proprietor of Swansea, Wales-Early career:Haynes was born in 1745 to a Quaker family with its origins in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, although his exact place of birth and continuing religious affiliations are...
, appointing Haynes as manager.
In 1802 Lewis was sent by his father to Swansea to take control of the pottery. Although he had no previous experience of ceramics manufacture, he was enthusiastic and the quality of the pottery made there was improved under his management. In 1814 the pottery took over the workforce of the Nantgarw Pottery
Nantgarw Pottery
The Nantgarw Pottery was a noted pottery, located in Nantgarw on the eastern bank of the Glamorganshire Canal, north of Cardiff in the River Taff valley, Glamorganshire, Wales. It closed in 1920, when cigarettes replaced clay pipes...
and began to make porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
.
Lewis Weston Dillwyn however was also renowned for his published works on botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and conchology
Conchology
Conchology is the scientific or amateur study of mollusc shells. Conchology is one aspect of malacology, the study of molluscs, however malacology studies molluscs as whole organisms, not just their shells. Conchology pre-dated malacology as a field of study. It includes the study of land and...
, including his work The British Confervae an illustrated study of British freshwater algae, published 1809. Dillwyn is credited with discovering several species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of the Conferva genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. Among the botanical illustrators of The British Confervae are the artists William Jackson Hooker
William Jackson Hooker
Sir William Jackson Hooker, FRS was an English systematic botanist and organiser. He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University, and was the first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He enjoyed the friendship and support of Sir Joseph Banks for his exploring,...
, Ellen Hutchins
Ellen Hutchins
Ellen Hutchins was an early Irish botanist.Hutchins was from Ardnagashel, Ballylickey, where her family had a small estate at the head of Bantry Bay, County Cork. Her father was a magistrate and died when she was two years old, leaving a wife and six children. She moved to Dublin and was looked...
and William Weston Young
William Weston Young
William Weston Young Quaker Entrepreneur of Bristol and Glamorganshire; artist, botanist, wreck-raiser, surveyor, potter, and inventor of the firebrick....
. He was elected in 1804 as a Fellow of the Royal Society
In 1817 he retired from the pottery. In 1818 he became High Sheriff of Glamorgan
High Sheriff of Glamorgan
This page is a list of High Sheriffs of Glamorgan. Sheriffs of Glamorgan served under and were answerable to the independent Lords of Glamorgan until that lordship was merged into the crown. This is in contrast to sheriffs of the English shires who were from the earliest times officers of the crown...
and was elected to the First Reformed Parliament in 1834 as MP for Glamorganshire. He was Mayor of Swansea in 1839. Dillwyn was also one of the founders of the Royal Institution of South Wales and its first President, and in 1840 he published a short history of Swansea.
He married Mary Adams, the daughter of Colonel John Llewelyn of Penllergaer, Llangyfelach in 1807. They had six children, including the noted photographer John Dillwyn Llewelyn
John Dillwyn Llewelyn
John Dillwyn Llewelyn was a botanist and pioneer photographer.-Early life:He was born in Swansea, Wales, the eldest son of Lewis Weston Dillwyn and Mary Dillwyn, née Adams, the natural daughter of Col. John Llewelyn of Penllergare and Ynysygerwn...
(1810–1882) and Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn
Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn
Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn was a Welsh industrialist and Liberal politician.Dillwyn was born in Swansea, Wales, the second son of Lewis Weston Dillwyn and Mary Dillwyn . His father had been sent to Swansea by his father William, to take over the management of the Cambrian Pottery, and lived at Sketty...
, who became MP for Swansea.
He died in Sketty Hall, Swansea, in 1855.
.
Further reading
- A.R. Walker, 'The Dillwyns as naturalists: Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778-1855)', in Minerva (Journal of Swansea History); 11, p.20-42.