William Strutt (inventor)
Encyclopedia
William Strutt FRS, was a cotton
spinner in Belper
, England
.
and, after a good education, joined his father's business at the age of fourteen. He also inherited his father's mechanical abilities and is said to have thought of the self-acting mule some years before Richard Roberts
patented it in 1830, but the technology was not available to make it work.
Be that as it may, he looked after the technical side of the business, while his brothers, Joseph
and George Benson dealt with commercial and management side respectively. It became known as W.G. and J. Strutt..
He became a successful architect, designing many of the bridges in Derby
and the original Derbyshire General Infirmary in 1810. In 1779 he was made a freeman of Derby and Burgess of the Borough, allowing him to vote in Parliament. He was co-founder of the Derby Philosophical Society
with Thomas Gisborne, Richard French, Erasmus Darwin
and other individuals, and was President for twenty-eight years.
One of Strutt's most important concerns was the development of fire-resistant structures and technology in textile mills and the application of these in other contexts. A major problem with the nineteenth century timber framed mills was fire, particularly if they worked with inflammable materials. When Darley Abbey
Mill burnt down in 1788 it was rebuilt with sheets of tin fastened to the beams as protection. Many engineers of the day were addressing the problem which was nation-wide.
Strutt had used cast-iron for bridges in Derby, and applied it to building, first a calico mill in Derby and the Warehouse at Milford (pulled down in 1964 to make a car park), and then the new West Mill, built in 1795 at Belper. Tile and gypsum plaster floors were supported on brickwork arches supported on cast iron columns. The timber beams were encased in thin sheet iron. To reduce weight, the upper floors were supported on hollow earthenware pots encased in plaster.
He went on to build a five storey flax
mill at Ditherington
in Shrewsbury
where the beams were also of cast-iron thus building one of the first iron-framed factory. He used the same principle to rebuild Belper North Mill
after it burnt down in 1803.
Strutt built a number of other mills in Belper and Milford, the most remarkable perhaps was the Round Mill. This was probably influenced by the ideas of Jeremy Bentham for an octagonal building with a central overseer.
He married Barbara, the daughter of Thomas Evans of Darley Abbey
, his first son Edward later becoming Lord Belper. He also had three daughter Elizabeth, Anne and Frances and two daughters who died in infancy.
In 1817 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
. Strutt held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Derbyshire.
In 1819 Strutt designed and built the Derby Infirmary which he worked on with his friend Charles Sylvester
. Sylvester documented the new ways of heating hospitals that were included in the design and the healthier features such as self cleaning and air refreshing toilets. Strutt incorporated many new features into the infirmary including his fire-proof construction and novel heating that allowed the patiernts to breathe fresh heated air whilst old air was channelled up to a glass and iron dome at the centre. Strutt's infirmary culminated in a giant statue of Aesculapius designed by William John Coffee
. Sylvester described the advances that Strutt had made and this was successful in three ways. Sylvester was able to take the new ideas for heating and apply them in numerous other building projects. The Derby Infirmary was seen as a leader in European architecture and architects and visiting Royalty were brought to see its features. Finally Strutt was proposed to become a member of the Royal Society
by five distinguished proposers which included Marc Isambard Brunel
and James Watt
.
Strutt died in 1830 and was buried in the Unitarian Chapel in Friargate, Derby. In 1831, the Royal Society's president summarised Strutt's achievement as "author of those great improvements in the construction of stoves, and in the economical
generation and distribution of heat, which have of late years been so extensively and so
usefully introduced in the warming and ventilation of hospitals and public buildings."
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
spinner in Belper
Belper
Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Biography
Strutt was the first son of Jedediah StruttJedediah Strutt
Jedediah Strutt or Jedidiah Strutt – as he spelt it – was a hosier and cotton spinner from Belper, England.Strutt and his brother-in-law William Woollat developed an attachment to the stocking frame that allowed the production of ribbed stockings...
and, after a good education, joined his father's business at the age of fourteen. He also inherited his father's mechanical abilities and is said to have thought of the self-acting mule some years before Richard Roberts
Richard Roberts (engineer)
Richard Roberts was a British engineer whose development of high-precision machine tools contributed to the birth of production engineering and mass production.-Early life:...
patented it in 1830, but the technology was not available to make it work.
Be that as it may, he looked after the technical side of the business, while his brothers, Joseph
Joseph Strutt
Joseph Strutt may refer to:*Joseph Strutt , English engraver and antiquary*Joseph Strutt , Derby textile manufacturer and philanthropist*Joseph Strutt , British soldier and MP...
and George Benson dealt with commercial and management side respectively. It became known as W.G. and J. Strutt..
He became a successful architect, designing many of the bridges in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and the original Derbyshire General Infirmary in 1810. In 1779 he was made a freeman of Derby and Burgess of the Borough, allowing him to vote in Parliament. He was co-founder of the Derby Philosophical Society
Derby Philosophical Society
The Derby Philosophical Society was a club for gentleman in Derby founded in 1783 by Erasmus Darwin. The club had many notable members and also offered the first institutional library in Derby that was available to some section of the public.-History:...
with Thomas Gisborne, Richard French, Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin was an English physician who turned down George III's invitation to be a physician to the King. One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, he was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, slave trade abolitionist,inventor and poet...
and other individuals, and was President for twenty-eight years.
One of Strutt's most important concerns was the development of fire-resistant structures and technology in textile mills and the application of these in other contexts. A major problem with the nineteenth century timber framed mills was fire, particularly if they worked with inflammable materials. When Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey is a village on the outskirts of Derby, England. The village is located on the River Derwent and is associated with the world heritage site of Derwent Valley Mills.- History :...
Mill burnt down in 1788 it was rebuilt with sheets of tin fastened to the beams as protection. Many engineers of the day were addressing the problem which was nation-wide.
Strutt had used cast-iron for bridges in Derby, and applied it to building, first a calico mill in Derby and the Warehouse at Milford (pulled down in 1964 to make a car park), and then the new West Mill, built in 1795 at Belper. Tile and gypsum plaster floors were supported on brickwork arches supported on cast iron columns. The timber beams were encased in thin sheet iron. To reduce weight, the upper floors were supported on hollow earthenware pots encased in plaster.
He went on to build a five storey flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
mill at Ditherington
Ditherington
Ditherington is a district within the town of Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, England. It is the 4th most deprived ward in non-metropolitan Shropshire....
in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
where the beams were also of cast-iron thus building one of the first iron-framed factory. He used the same principle to rebuild Belper North Mill
Belper North Mill
Belper North Mill, also known as Strutt's North Mill, Belper, is one of the Derwent Valley Mills designated UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2001.It is sited in Belper, a town in Derbyshire, England roughly half way between Derby and Matlock....
after it burnt down in 1803.
Strutt built a number of other mills in Belper and Milford, the most remarkable perhaps was the Round Mill. This was probably influenced by the ideas of Jeremy Bentham for an octagonal building with a central overseer.
He married Barbara, the daughter of Thomas Evans of Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey is a village on the outskirts of Derby, England. The village is located on the River Derwent and is associated with the world heritage site of Derwent Valley Mills.- History :...
, his first son Edward later becoming Lord Belper. He also had three daughter Elizabeth, Anne and Frances and two daughters who died in infancy.
In 1817 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. Strutt held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Derbyshire.
In 1819 Strutt designed and built the Derby Infirmary which he worked on with his friend Charles Sylvester
Charles Sylvester
Charles Sylvester was a chemist and inventor born in Sheffield, United Kingdom. He worked on galvanization, public building heating and sanitation, and railroad friction amongst other things.-Biography:...
. Sylvester documented the new ways of heating hospitals that were included in the design and the healthier features such as self cleaning and air refreshing toilets. Strutt incorporated many new features into the infirmary including his fire-proof construction and novel heating that allowed the patiernts to breathe fresh heated air whilst old air was channelled up to a glass and iron dome at the centre. Strutt's infirmary culminated in a giant statue of Aesculapius designed by William John Coffee
W. J. Coffee
William John Coffee was an internationally renowned English artist and sculptor who worked in porcelain, plaster, and terra cotta. He also worked in oil paint, although this was not the medium for which he became famous. His early career was as a modeller for Duesbury at the china factory on...
. Sylvester described the advances that Strutt had made and this was successful in three ways. Sylvester was able to take the new ideas for heating and apply them in numerous other building projects. The Derby Infirmary was seen as a leader in European architecture and architects and visiting Royalty were brought to see its features. Finally Strutt was proposed to become a member of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
by five distinguished proposers which included Marc Isambard Brunel
Marc Isambard Brunel
Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, FRS FRSE was a French-born engineer who settled in England. He preferred the name Isambard, but is generally known to history as Marc to avoid confusion with his more famous son Isambard Kingdom Brunel...
and James Watt
James Watt
James Watt, FRS, FRSE was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the Newcomen steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution in both his native Great Britain and the rest of the world.While working as an instrument maker at the...
.
Strutt died in 1830 and was buried in the Unitarian Chapel in Friargate, Derby. In 1831, the Royal Society's president summarised Strutt's achievement as "author of those great improvements in the construction of stoves, and in the economical
generation and distribution of heat, which have of late years been so extensively and so
usefully introduced in the warming and ventilation of hospitals and public buildings."