Joseph Gillott

Background

Gillott was born on October 11, 1799 in Sheffield, England.

Education

After a brief period of schooling, Gillott began working in the cutlery trade in his home town of Sheffield.

Career

In 1821 Gillott removed to Birmingham, where he found employment in the steel toy trade, the technical name for the manufacture of steel buckles, chains and light ornamental steel-work generally. About 1830 he turned his attention to the manufacture of steel pens by machinery, and in 1831 patented a process for placing elongated points on the nibs of pens. Subsequently he invented other improvements, getting rid of the hardness and lack of flexibility, which had been a serious defect in nibs, by cutting, in addition to the centre slit, side slits, and cross grinding the points. He certainly spread his cash across a number of bank accounts in Birmingham. In 1840 he opened his Victoria Works; the business employed mainly girls. Gillott also invested in the new railway companies and especially in property and land – not only in Birmingham, where he bought a large estate in Edgbaston, but also in London and Wales. The family home for many years was "The Grove" on Westbourne Road in Edgbaston. By 1859 he had built up a very large business. He died at Birming'nam on the 5th of January 1873.

Achievements

• Gillott was an English manufacturer, known for producing pens.

Personality

Gillott was an often secretive man, both in business and in art collecting. He socialised with a small group of friends at the Hen and Chickens Hotel and the Theatre Royal (which he part-owned) in New Street, Birmingham.

Interests

• Artists

  Gillott was an art collector - at first he exchanged pens for paintings - and one of the first to recognise the merits of J. M. W. Turner. His collection of pictures, sold after his death, realised £170, 000.

Connections

Son

Joseph Gillott junior