Celebrating the life, work and legacy of Matthew Boulton

Matthew Boulton - Timeline

1728 - Matthew Boulton born in Birmingham, 14 September. Parents: Matthew Boulton senior (a button and bucklemaker) and Christiana Peers.

1745 - Leaves school; joins the family business.

1749 - Marries Mary Robinson of Lichfield.

1759 - Death of wife Mary and father, Matthew Boulton senior.

1760 - Marries Ann Robinson of Lichfield (sister of Mary).

1761 - Leases 13 acres of land at Handsworth, including Soho House (built c.1757).

1762-4 - Builds Soho Manufactory. Now exports jewellery, silver and decorative wares throughout Europe with partner John Fothergill.

1766 - Lunar Society begins, with Dr. Erasmus Darwin, Matthew Boulton and Dr. William Small. Boulton and his second wife move into Soho House.

1768 - Daughter, Anne Boulton, born, 29 January. Matthew Boulton on the General Hospital Committee Organizing the first of the Birmingham Music Festivals.

1770 - Son, Matthew Robinson Boulton, born, 8 August.

1772 - Boulton supplies ‘green glass earrings’ for botanist Joseph Banks to take with him as bartering goods on Captain Cook’s circumnavigation of the globe.

1773 - Succeeds in campaign to establish The Birmingham Assay Office.

1775 - Invites the Scottish engineer JamesWatt to join him in partnership at Soho. American War of Independence begins.

1785 - Boulton elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

1789 - Start of the French Revolution.

1790 - Soho House remodelled by James and SamuelWyatt.

1793 - Matthew Boulton becomes Chairman of the Birmingham Theatre Proprietors’ Committee.

1794 - Serves as High Sherriff of Staffordshire. Also Chairman of the Governors of the Birmingham Dispensary.

1797 - Awarded Royal Mint contract to strike copper coinage at Soho. Boulton &Watt steam engines and minting machinery now exported worldwide.

1805 - Battle of Trafalgar. Boulton strikes a commemorative medal (right).

1809 - Matthew Boulton dies at Soho House, 17 August.