Sawyer’s Story: Sawyer Spence – Plumber and Gentleman

by Pauline Fothergill

From Yorkshire plumber’s apprentice to London multi-millionaire Sawyer Spence’s life exemplifies the opportunities that a self-made man could seize during the innovative years of the Industrial Revolution. Pauline Fothergill has meticulously researched from primary sources the inspiring story of her g-g-g-great grandfather’s life and has found more than a few surprises emerging from what began as nothing more than a wisp of family legend. The Industrial Revolution is without doubt a period without parallel in British history and Pauline’s research provides a case study of just one man’s entrepreneurial response to its challenges and his ability to manage the complexities of his family and business affairs.