PREFACE 



SEVERAL lives of Josiah Wedgwood have already been 

 published, and it is therefore necessary to give an apology 

 for the appearance of the present volume. 



Mr. Charles T. Gatty had been requested by the 

 Wedgwood family to undertake the composition of the 

 life of their illustrious ancestor; but, after numerous 

 interruptions, he was unable to proceed with the work. 

 I had already made some progress with a popular Life 

 of Wedgwood, and when he found that I was engaged 

 upon it, he kindly lent me the materials derived direct 

 from the Wedgwood family manuscripts. 



These documents, I found, consisted for the most 

 part of materials which had not been investigated by 

 former biographers. Many of them were calculated to 

 throw a new light upon the personal history of the 

 Master Potter of Staffordshire. They show how he 

 converted a rude art into one of the most important 

 articles of British Commerce. They contain his diaries, 



M181674 



