Joseph Whitworth was born in Cheshire, England back in 1803 to Charles, sorry I don’t have his mother’s name. Educated at Idle, near Bradford, Yorkshire he showed an aptitude for mechanics. After graduating he became an indentured apprentice to his uncle Joseph. He worked in the cotton spinning industry.
Watching the poor standards of the cotton industry inspired him to use his education to improve the process. He developed great skill as a mechanic. Returning to Openshaw, Manchester to open his own business manufacturing lathes. He founded the Manchester School of Design in 1868. He died in 1887 at 83.
What you may not know about Joseph Whitworth is that he was also an inventor. He devised the British Standard Whitworth system, which created an accepted standard for screw threads, it is still in use to this day. He also invented the Whitworth rifle which was considered to be the first sniper rifle, it could hit the bullseye at a distance of 400 yards. One last thing, he also designed a large rifled breech-loading gun that how a 12-pound projectile a distance of 6 miles quite revolutionary in those days.
Until tomorrow give someone the free gift of a smile
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