William Cookworthy
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William Cookworthy (12 April 1705 – 17 October 1780) was an English chemist and a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) from Kingsbridge, Devon. He discovered china clay in Cornwall and devised a way of making porcelain, which previously had needed to be imported from China. He was also an associate of John Smeaton, who lodged at his house when he was engaged in building the third Eddystone Lighthouse (1756-1759). Cookworthy helped Smeaton with the development of hydraulic lime, which was essential to the successful building of the lighthouse.
In 1767 Cookworthy, in conjunction with Rev Thomas Hartley, translated Emanuel Swedenborg's theological works, "The Doctrine of Life," "Treatise on Influx," and "Heaven and Hell", into English.[1] His initial reaction to Swedenborg's works was one of disgust, but with persistence, he was convinced of their merits and was a persuasive advocate. Hartley and Cookworthy later visited Swedenborg at his lodgings in Clerkenwell shortly before Swedenborg's death.
In 1768 he founded a works at Plymouth for the production of Plymouth Porcelain. It is also known that prior to his departure, Captain James Cook together with the naturalists Dr Solander and Sir Joseph Banks, were guests of Cookworthy.
[edit] References
Bibliography: "Early New Church Worthies" by the Rev Dr Jonathon Bayley Mackenna, F.Severne (1947) Cookworthy's Plymouth and Bristol Porcelain published by F.Lewis
