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Boulton was born in Birmingham, England where his father, Matthew Boulton the elder, was a "toymaker" (a manufacturer of small metal articles of various kinds). In 1749 he became a partner in his father's business (and the general manager), and in 1755 the Boultons acquired Sarehole Mill, which they used for rolling sheet metal. In 1756 Boulton married Mary Robinson, a distant cousin and heir to a large fortune. They had no children and she died around 1760.

Sword, about 1775, Matthew Boulton manufacturer V&A Museum no. 141-1889

About 1767, Boulton, needing to improve the power supply for his machinery, made the acquaintance of James Watt, who on his side appreciated the advantages offered by the Soho works for the development of his steam-engine.

In 1772, Watt's partner, Dr. John Roebuck, got into financial difficulties, and Boulton, to whom he owed £1200, accepted his two-thirds share in Watt's patent in satisfaction of the debt. Three years later, Boulton and Watt formally entered into partnership, and it was mainly through the energy and self-sacrifice of the former, who devoted all the capital he had or could borrow to the enterprise, that the steam engine was at length made a commercial success. For 11 years the Soho Foundry made Watt's steam-engines for colliery owners to pump water out of mines, the Boulton & Watt engine being four times more powerful than Thomas Newcomen's original design. Watt marketed his rotary-motion steam engine from 1781. The earlier steam engine's vertical movement was ideal for operating water pumps but the new engine could be adapted to drive all sorts of machinery. Richard Arkwright pioneered its use in his cotton mills and within 15 years there were 500+ Boulton & Watt steam engines in British factories and mines. Boulton also arranged, in 1775, an act of parliament extending the term of Watt's 1769 patent to 1799.

Sarehole Mill's blue plaque commemorating Matthew Boulton

Boulton married his late wife's sister Anne (Nancy) at about this time - the marriage was contrary to ecclesiastical law, being considered incestuous, so it was conducted in obscure circumstances.

The Boultons had a daughter, Anne (died 1829), and a son, Matthew Robinson Boulton (1770-1842). In 1800, the two partners retired from the business, which they handed over to their sons, Matthew Robinson Boulton and James Watt Junior.

He died in Birmingham on August 18 1809. He is buried in the grounds of St. Mary's Church, Handsworth, in Birmingham.

Boulton was a key member of the Lunar Society. His home, Soho House, is now a museum. An extensive archive of his papers are at Birmingham Central Library.

He is also remembered by the Moonstones; a statue of him, Watt and Murdoch, by William Bloye, Matthew Boulton College, and Boulton Road, all in Birmingham. There is also a Boulton Road in Smethwick.

Key innovations

• Boulton's secret to improving labour productivity was by equipping his works with all kinds of labour-saving devices made by the use of clever designs with interchangeable components, and making use of technology to reproduce designs, each of which was efficiently manufactured in quantity.
• Instead of putting work out in the traditional way to toymakers around the town, he brought all the functions of a modern business, including design and marketing, under his control.
• In the 1770s he introduced a very early social insurance scheme, funded by workers' contributions of 1/60th of their wages, and which paid benefits of up to 80% of wages to staff who were sick or injured or killed.
• He ensured that the works were clean, well-lit and well-ventilated.
• He refused to employ young children.

References

• The Lunar Men: Five Friends Whose Curiosity Changed the World by Jenny Uglow (Faber & Faber, 2002)
• A History of the Button by Roy Earnshaw (Lands' End Catalog: March 1989, Volume 25, Number 3)

External links

• Matthew Boulton 2009 website
• Archives of Soho at Birmingham Central Library.
• http://jquarter.members.beeb.net/moremboulton.htm
• Revolutionary Players website
• Cornwall Record Office Boulton & Watt letters

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