CHAPTER III 



JOSIAH WEDGWOOD LEARNS HIS TRADE 



ON the death of Thomas Wedgwood, in June 1*739, his 

 youngest son Josiah, who was only nine years old, was 

 taken from Mr. Blunt's school at Newcastle-under- 

 Lyme, and was shortly after employed at his brother's 

 pottery. Thomas, the eldest son, had succeeded to the 

 small estate and the pottery business, with provision 

 for the maintenance of his mother and her large 

 family. 



Josiah early displayed a taste for modelling. While 

 at school he showed some knowledge of cutting out 

 designs on paper. He had the run of his brother's 

 factory, and soon after he left school he distinguished 

 himself by his readiness to imitate in clay whatever 

 objects struck his fancy. He seems to have had a 

 natural bent towards modelling. He often amused 

 his acquaintances with imitations in clay of toy figures. 

 His clay model of a mountebank's stage, with the 

 doctor and his suite, and all the usual accompaniments, 

 excited much admiration amongst his friends. 



