Humphrey Gainsborough

Humphrey Gainsborough, an 18th century non-conformist minister and inventor.

Related Topics:
18th century - Non-conformist - Minister - Inventor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Humphrey Gainsborough was pastor to the Independent Church in Henley-on-Thames. He was the brother of the artist Thomas Gainsborough. He invented the drill plough, winning a prize of £60 from the Royal Society for his efforts. He also invented the tide mill, which allowed a mill wheel to rotate in either direction, winning a £50 prize from the London Society for the Encouragement of Art. In addition, he designed a self-ventilating fish wagon.

Related Topics:
Henley-on-Thames - Thomas Gainsborough - Drill plough - Royal Society - Tide mill - Mill wheel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gainsborough showed a model of a steam engine to James Watt who subsequently patented the idea, much to Gainsborough's annoyance. He is thus perhaps less well-known than he might have been.

Related Topics:
Steam engine - James Watt - Patented

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The lock, weir and footbridge at Marsh Lock, just upstream from Henley on the River Thames, were designed by Gainsborough. A blue plaque in his honour can be found in the town of Henley itself on the gates of the house where he lived.

Related Topics:
Lock - Weir - Footbridge - Marsh Lock - River Thames - Blue plaque - Henley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~