Bmet matthew boulton biography

Biography of Matthew Bolton

Matthew Bolton was an English entrepreneur and pioneer in management. He was the son of renowned English industrialist Matthew Boulton Sr., who, along with Scottish engineer James Watt, produced hundreds of steam engines at the Soho Foundry.

Matthew Pierce Watt Boulton, the son of Matthew Bolton Sr., was the first person to patent ailerons. He was born on August 8, 1770. In 1800, his father and James Watt retired from business, passing on the reins to their sons. Matthew Bolton Sr. fell seriously ill and passed away on August 17, 1809, at Soho House. He was buried at St. Mary's Church in Handsworth, Birmingham. Inside the church, on the north side of the sanctuary, a large marble monument to Bolton Sr. was placed. The monument was made by sculptor John Flaxman at the request of his son.

Details about Matthew Robinson's personal life are scarce. Ten years before his father retired, Bolton Sr. sent him a letter expressing his strong desire for his son to return home. Bolton Sr. believed that he had not spent enough time with Matthew for him to truly be called his son. Matthew had traveled to Europe in 1768 to receive a good education. He first studied in Paris and then in Versailles. During this time, his father regularly sent him letters, urging him to reply. When Matthew moved to the German village of Stedtfeld, he began a passionate affair with Baroness Wangenheim. In his letter in 1789, Bolton Sr. made it clear that he wanted his son to leave Calypso and her magic behind, as Matthew was in danger. Fortunately for his father, the intrigue with the baroness ended in October 1789 when Matthew moved to Bad Langensalza to study chemistry under Johann Wiegleb.

Matthew started a family and moved to Birmingham, but his son, Matthew Pierce Watt Bolton, apparently went to Oxfordshire after selling his grandfather's estate in 1850. In 1868, long before the invention of the aircraft engine, Matthew Pierce patented the first ailerons, control surfaces used for lateral control of airplanes. The patent was issued approximately 35 years before ailerons were "reinvented" in France. Until 1902, ailerons were almost forgotten and not used, but after that, they became a standard element in maneuvering most modern airplanes.

The Bolton family is also associated with the British design bureau "Boulton Paul Aircraft", which was responsible for producing military aircraft. The production began in 1934, although the company was already known in aviation since 1914. The bureau operated until 1961. "Boulton Paul Aircraft" primarily produced and modified aircraft under contracts with other manufacturers, but they also had some of their own developments, such as the "Boulton Paul Defiant" interceptor aircraft. This British two-seat fighter was put into serial production in July 1938.

The origins of the company "Boulton Paul Aircraft" date back to 1797 when a buckle shop was opened in Norwich. William Staples Boulton joined the buckle manufacturing company in Norwich in 1844. By 1870, William was already a partner in the firm, which later became known as "Barnard & Boulton" and eventually "Boulton & Paul Ltd". The company's engineering department started functioning in 1905. In the early 1900s, "Boulton & Paul Ltd" rapidly transformed into a full-fledged manufacturing enterprise. Aircraft production began in 1914-1915. A separate branch of aviation was established in 1934, and later moved to Wolverhampton. Matthew Robinson Bolton died on May 16, 1842.