yr9_Josiah_Wedgwood




 * Biography:** Josiah Wedgwood, the thirteenth and youngest son of the potter, Thomas Wedgwood, was born in Burslem, Stoke, in 1730. At the age of nine Josiah left school and joined the family business at Churchyard Works. His father died in 1737 so Josiah was apprenticed to his elder brother. After an attack of smallpox at the age of eleven, his health deteriorated and work as a potter became difficult. The disease affected his right leg and later it had to be amputated. Unable for a while to work as a potter, Josiah spent his time reading and researching about the craft of pottery. His son Josiah Wedgwood II continued his father's firm and was Member of Parliament for Stoke-upon-Trent from 1832 to 1835. He was an abolitionist, and detested slavery.


 * Abolishtion Contribution:** Josiah Wedgwood's most important contribution to the movement for the abolition of slavery was the production of his "Slave Medallion". These mainly black and white jasper ware medallions were modelled by William Hackwood at Wedgwood's Etruria Pottery in Staffordshire. Their central design depicted the emblem and motto of the Society for the Abolition of Slavery and is a good demonstration of how Wedgwood was able to adapt his craft for political function. From 1878 these medallions were distributed in great quantity, primarily to adorn fashion accessories. In being so worn the medallions publicised the suffering of slaves and hence were instrumental in turning popular feeling in favour of the anti-slavery movement. Following the adaptation of the medallion to adorn snuff boxes, hat pins and brooches, Thomas Clarkson remarked; "//Fashion, which usually confines itself to worthless things was seen for once in the honourable office of promoting the cause of justice, humanity and freedom//". Accordingly, Wedgwood replies on 18 January 1792 and suggests that the appeal of the pamphlet could be further enhanced by the advertisement on the title page being replaced by a print of the emblem of the Society for the Abolition of Slavery. For this reason he proposes to have a wood-cut made, at his own expense, depicting the kneeling Negro in mannacles, surrounded by the motto: ‘Am I not a man and a Brother’, and at the same time he orders 2,000 more pamphlets. Wedgwood sent a large number of the medallions to Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia who also remarked on their value as a means of bringing awareness of the existence of slavery to the public. Franklin was particularly interested in the art of pottery and his appreciation of Wedgwood’s art is seen from his reply to Josiah on receipt of the gift of slave medallions.