CHAPTEE I 



JOSIAH WEDGWOOD BIRTH AND EDUCATION 



JOSIAH WEDGWOOD was born in the house adjoining the 

 Churchyard Works at Burslem, Staffordshire, in 1730. 

 The actual date of his birth is not known; but his 

 baptism is recorded in the parish register of St. John's, 

 Burslem, in these words : " Josiah, son of Thomas and 

 Mary Wedgwood, baptized 12th July 1730." 1 



Josiah's father was a potter, like his forefathers before 

 him. He possessed a small estate, including a pottery, 

 adjoining the Burslem Churchyard. His mother's 

 maiden name was Mary Stringer, the daughter, it is 

 said, of a nonconformist minister. She was a small and 

 delicately organised woman, quick and sensible, and 

 kindly in her disposition. 



Thomas and Mary Wedgwood had thirteen children 

 in all seven sons and six daughters. Josiah was the 



1 It is carved on his monument at Stoke-upon-Trent that he was 

 "born in August 1730"; but this must be a mistake, as he was 

 baptized in the previous month. 



B 



