Josiah Wedgwood
1730-1795 · British · Industrial Revolution
Known for: Father of English Potters who invented modern marketing and supported abolition
A potter's son who lost a leg to smallpox but built the world's most successful ceramics business. Invented jasperware, built factory town Etruria, pioneered celebrity endorsements, money-back guarantees, and catalog sales.
Friend of Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles, whose granddaughter married Charles). Created the 'Am I Not a Man and a Brother?' abolitionist cameo. Industrialized craftsmanship.
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