STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE: BIOGRAPHIES
History is always made by people. Of course, this also applies to the age of the industrial revolution. Industrial history is also not only told through architectural evidence such as mines, production plants or workers' settlements. Just as important are the people of both sexes: inventors, entrepreneurs, financiers and above all the workers.
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Following we present more than 230 biographies of selected personalities who influenced the industrial history of Europe, of their countries, regions, towns or of a branch of industry ...

Theodor von Cramer-Klett (1817–84)
Theodor von Cramer-Klett (born Theodor Cramer) was born in Vienna and initially worked in his father’s soap business in that city. Later ...
Thomas Russell Crampton (1816–88)
Thomas Russell Crampton is best-known as the designer of a distinctive type of steam locomotive that was more popular in continental ...
Silvio Benigno Crespi (1868–1944)
Silvio Benigno Crespi was principally responsible for the building of Crespi d’Adda the most spectacular industrial community in Italy. ...
Johann Baptist Czjzek Edler von Smidaich (1841–1925)
Johann Baptist Čžjžek Edler von Smidaich was one of the leading entrepreneurs in the Habsburg Empire with interests in several major ...
Gottlieb Daimler was one of the outstanding pioneers of the motor industry. Born at Schorndorf, Wurtemburg, he studied at the Polytechnic ...
Abiah Darby (nee Maude, other married name Sinclair) was the wife of Abraham Darby II (1711-63) of Coalbrookdale, the ironmaster who, in ...
The Darby dynasty were important figures in the British iron industry for nearly two centuries, and were responsible for innovations that ...
The civil engineer William Dargon is rightly regarded as the ‘father of Irish railways’. He was born in Co Laoise (then Queen’s County), ...
Leisure pursuits, links with sporting stars and the cult of celebrity and powerful brand names are characteristics of some twenty-first ...
Zino Davidoff established himself as one of Europe’s principal suppliers of cigars, and his name remains one of the most powerful brands ...
Humphry Davy was a distinguished scientist who changed coalmining with his design for a safety lamp. As a scientist he was a pioneer of ...
Paul Camille von Denis (1795–1872)
Paul Camille Denis was a Franco-German engineer who pioneered railway building in Germany. He designed the country’s first main-line ...
In the course of the 20th century the diesel engine became the principal means of propelling seagoing ships, heavy lorries and motor ...
Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck (1830–1916)
Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck became one of the richest men of his time and from 1901 held the title of ‘Furst’ (i.e. prince). He was ...
Georges Dufaud, born in Beaumont-la-Ferriere (Nièvre), discovered the activity in the La Chaussade forges of Guérigny, led by his ...
Henry Dunker was a rubber manufacturer who diversified and expanded his business interests and became the richest man in Sweden. He left ...