Bennet Woodcroft

December 20, 1803 (age 75)

Heaton Norris, Lancashire

Woodcroft was later Professor of Machinery at University College London. At this time he was 63 and she 33. They had no children. On the 1871 census they lived alone with servants, on the 1881 census she is widowed living with the cook only. Woodcroft died in 1879 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. His portrait is in the National Portrait Gallery. A letter to his subordinate at South Kensington typifies his single-minded approach: ‘Get the Comet engine in all its filth’ he commanded, emphasising the urgency of the quest. The Patent Office Museum also acquired several examples of stationary steam engine, including a Boulton and Watt beam engine which was the oldest surviving of its type in the world. Without Woodcroft it is doubtful that some of the most important artefacts of the first industrial revolution would have ever been preserved.

Bennet Woodcroft

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engineer

Background

Woodcroft was born in Heaton Norris, Lancashire. She was born in Bosworth, Leicestershire.

Career

Woodcroft was later Professor of Machinery at University College London. At this time he was 63 and she 33. They had no children.

On the 1871 census they lived alone with servants, on the 1881 census she is widowed living with the cook only.

Woodcroft died in 1879 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. His portrait is in the National Portrait Gallery.

A letter to his subordinate at South Kensington typifies his single-minded approach: ‘Get the Comet engine in all its filth’ he commanded, emphasising the urgency of the quest. The Patent Office Museum also acquired several examples of stationary steam engine, including a Boulton and Watt beam engine which was the oldest surviving of its type in the world.

Without Woodcroft it is doubtful that some of the most important artefacts of the first industrial revolution would have ever been preserved.

Achievements

He was the founder of the Patent Office Library, now part of the British Library, and of the Patent Museum, whose collections are now in the Science Museum.

Membership

Royal Society.

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Bennet Woodcroft

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Fellow of the Royal Society