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This page is part of a website based
on the life and achievements of eighteenth-century inventor Henry Cort. Please email site controller Eric
Alexander with any comments or queries. |
MAIN SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Much of the information about Henry Cort given in history books
is based on nineteenth-century accounts, which
are sparse and unreliable.
Since then new information has been unearthed, mainly by Mott and Eric Alexander. A limited amount has been obtained from the International
Genealogy Index (IGI), a compilation by the Mormon church that has attempted,
with limited success, to copy all parish records of marriages and baptisms.
The online version of the Oxford Dictionary of National
Biography contains a limited amount of the most recently discovered material.
Among a host of useful contemporary
documents, three stand out.
The earliest is the 1790 Watson-Dundas memorandum in the
National Archives of Scotland (GD51/2/10/2).
It covers the period 1772-89, focusing on financial detail.
Second is Cort's 1796 affidavit, among chancery
files at the PRO (C12/218/5), which refers to his business affairs over the
period 1761-90.
Third is the Weale collection in the Science Museum Library
(MS371/1-4). Most comprehensive, but
unreliable: an appraisal is given in Transactions of the Newcomen Society 75,
pp 341-358.
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Mr Cort's compliments to Mr Weale He'd
be happy to see him on Wednesday at a quarter before 5 o'clock to meet Mr
Routh a Partner in Mr Crawshay's House - Mr R has promised to get the Returns
for Mr Weale from 1795 but does not think he shall be able to procure them
from the year 1780. Mr C will thank
Mr Weale to put in his Pocket the Paper respecting Mr Cort's Father's Affairs
when he favours him with his Company - & if he has done with it Monday 21 Mount Road Lambeth near the Marsh Gate Turnpike
Letter of Coningsby Cort, circa January 1808, in Weale collection. |
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RELATED TOPICS John Becher and
the American War Thomas Morgan
and the American War Shelburne, Parry
and associates |
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The National Archives, Kew formerly called the Public Record Office
(PRO) an expression I got into the habit of using |
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Pedestrian entrance gate National Archives, Kew Wrought
steel by Alan Evans, 1996 The
notches are a historical reference to tally sticks, Once
used to notify taxpayers of their liabilities. When
there was no further use for them, Parliament had them Burnt. Unfortunately the fire got out of control,
and most Of
the Palace of Westminster was burned down. |
henrycort.net
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