John Wilkinson (industrialist)

John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson (1728 – 14 July 1808) was an English industrialist who pioneered the manufacture of cast iron and the use of cast-iron goods during the Industrial Revolution. He was the inventor of a precision cannon boring method that made cannons of greater accuracy and reliability than ever before. He invented a method for precision boring of large steam engine cylinders essential for the operation of the steam engines of James Watt, for which he was given an exclusive contract. His boring machine has been called the first machine tool. He also developed a blowing device for blast furnaces that allowed higher temperatures, increasing their efficiency, and helped sponsor the first iron bridge in Coalbrookdale. Apart from being the ironmaster of several iron foundries (Bersham, New and Old Willey, Bradley and Brymbo), he had lead mines, coal mines, a lead smelter, a lead pipe factory (in London), shares in copper mines in Wales and Cornwall, he built the first iron commercial barge, was invested in canal building, and also was involved in banks and minted his own coins for his workers known as 'Willeys'.