The Radical Potter: Josiah Wedgwood and the Transformation of Britain

Josiah Wedgwood was an English potter, entrepreneur, abolitionist, and beacon of the Industrial Revolution who revolutionized the production of ceramics in Georgian Britain by marrying technology with design, manufacturing efficiency, and retail flair. He was also radical in his mind and politics, campaigning for free trade and religious toleration and creating the ceramic Emancipation Badge. Tristram Hunt's new biography captures the energy and originality of Wedgwood and his extraordinary contribution to the transformation of eighteenth-century Britain.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 27 April 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Longlisted for the William MB Berger Prize for British Art History, 2022


A Spectacular Biography of the Great Designer, Entrepreneur, Abolitionist, and Beacon of the Industrial Revolution


From Acclaimed Historian and Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tristram Hunt




Josiah Wedgwood, the renowned English potter, stands as a testament to the finest era in his country's history. From his kilns and workshops in Stoke-on-Trent, he revolutionized the production of ceramics in Georgian Britain by seamlessly blending technology, design, efficiency, and retail prowess. Wedgwood's impact extended far beyond the borders of London, Liverpool, Bath, and Dublin, captivating the luxury markets of America and the world, thereby contributing to the emergence of a mass consumer society. Tristram Hunt, in his captivating new biography, draws upon Wedgwood's notebooks, letters, and the words of his contemporaries to vividly portray the energy and originality of Wedgwood and his remarkable contribution to the transformation of eighteenth-century Britain.




Wedgwood's journey was marked by his unwavering commitment to social and political causes. He ardently advocated for free trade and religious toleration, delivering pioneering papers to the Royal Society and holding membership in the esteemed Lunar Society of Birmingham. Perhaps most significantly, he crafted the ceramic Emancipation Badge, featuring a slave in chains and the poignant inscription "Am I Not a Man and a Brother?" This badge became an iconic symbol of the abolitionist movement, resonating with people worldwide.


Tristram Hunt's meticulously researched biography, deeply rooted in Wedgwood's personal writings and the accounts of his contemporaries, offers a captivating glimpse into the life and times of this remarkable individual. It sheds light on Wedgwood's creative process, his business acumen, and his unwavering dedication to making a positive impact on society. Through his achievements, Josiah Wedgwood emerges as a true visionary, a pioneer who left an indelible mark on the world of design, entrepreneurship, and abolitionism.

Weight: 296g
Dimension: 160 x 216 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780141984629