Seventeenth century Swansea reflected the progress generated by local families such as the Mansels and the Mackworths. Eighteenth century Swansea’s entrepreneurs had raised their capital from business activities elsewhere, such as London and Cornwall, before establishing themselves in the town.
The Dillwyns, Grenfells, Morrises and Vivians were to play a major part in the future development of Swansea.
Episodes such as the problems related to copper-smoke pollution and the search for a solution resulted in many of the copper-masters seeking assistance from some of the best scientists of the day, such as Michael Faraday and Sir Humphrey Davy.
This exciting and challenging time in Swansea’s history also produced home-grown scientists such as William Robert Grove, a barrister by profession, who turned to science as a result of poor health. In 1839, he invented the Grove Cell, written up in ‘The Correlation of Physical Forces’ and a forerunner of the principle of the conservation energy.
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Read more about industry in Swansea… Trade and Expansion
