In England, Abraham Darby developed the coking process in the early 1700swhich advanced metallurgy and iron production.

In the 1730s in England…Thomas Newcomen developedthe first working steam engine for pumping water out of mines.It wasn’t terribly efficient butbetter than animal or wind poweredpumps.

This bridge acrossthe Severn riverin Shropshire, Englandwas the first iron bridge in the world. (1781)

Coking processes are still in use today.

The spinning Jenny was developed by James Hargreaves in 1765; together with automated weaving machines, the textile factory was fast becoming a place of automation and dramatically improvedproductivity.

Drawing of a factory for textile (cotton cloth) production c. 1770.Water driven, but on the cusp of turning to the steam engine as apower source for the drive shaftsabove the machines. Notice theworkers.

A ‘Crompton mule’ from a textile factoryin England, c. 1780 This device will becomesteam engine driven and help revolutionizethe production of textiles.

The late 1700s and early 1800swas the age of canal building inBritain, on the continent,and in North America too.Massive increases in production rates from farms, and from new factories meant there was newdemand for cheaper transportation.

A factory from 1800 thatis still preserved to functionand demonstrate the machineage of industrial revolution.

The Watt steam enginedeveloped in the 1770s and which became a commercial success by the 1780s – 1840sand which dramaticallyincreased production inmany industries.

An early application of the steam engine by American James Fulton to ship building.This boat was the first steam engine poweredboat to navigate up the Hudson river fromNew York City to Albany, NY in 1807.

Robert Trevithick in 1801developed the first workingsteam engine on rails.Later, the Trevithick invention was improved in the 1820s by George Stephenson who is depicted here in 1830. Thisengine was called the Rocket.

Drawing of the opening of the Manchester to Liverpool Railway line In 1830.

Telegraphic equipment invented in the United States in the 1830s was placed along rail lines. The first city to city ‘instant’ (electric) communication for commercial use was between Washington DC and Baltimore in 1844.

Steam powered warship from 1844.

The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, opened in 1851 and celebrated the Industrial Revolutionas well as manufactured and luxury goods from around the world. This was the first world’s fair.

Inside the GreatHall of the GreatExhibition.Notice the roomsdedicated todifferent countries.

Thousands visited and the exhibition was considered a great success at promoting both British industry and empire.

Notice the flags down this part of the interior of theGreat Hall.

Singer sewing machine. First iteration ofthe machine depicted here – 1851.

Photograph from westernMaryland coal mine c. 1900

Boys as young as seven employed as ‘pickers’.Their job was to sort the coal fragments into sizes on a moving metal conveyor belt.