Men of Invention and Industry

This volume gathers vivid sketches of men whose practical genius reshaped industry before formal education could catch up. It begins with the rugged origins of English shipbuilding, following pioneers like Phineas Pett as they turned timber and imagination into vessels that carried empire across the seas. The narrative then links those early workshops to the steam engine’s breakthrough, showing how Watt’s power transformed both ship propulsion and the wider world of manufacturing.

Later sections move east to Ireland, where Sir Edward Harland recounts the rapid growth of Belfast’s yards and the broader social forces that fueled the island’s industrial surge. A separate chapter chronicles the invention of the steam‑printing press and its role in spreading newspapers and books to a thirsty public. The book concludes with a collection of autobiographical fragments from modest astronomers, illustrating how curiosity and diligence can illuminate the heavens even from humble homes.