Josiah Wedgwood

Wedgwood, Josiah (1730–95), English potter, inventor of Wedgwood ware. Famous for his cream-colored queen's ware, patented in 1765, he frequently employed artists such as John Flaxman for the designs on his blue-and-white jasper ware. Wedgwood, who introduced new materials and machinery to the craft of pottery-making, was the first to acquire steam engines at his factory in Etruria, Staffordshire, and contributed much to improve the standard of living of his workers.