10月6日　カーボン紙の特許

In 1806 Ralph Wedgwood, of the family of potters, patented an early form of carbon paper “for producing duplicates of writing”.

Ralph Wedgwood was a notable figure in English history who made significant contributions in various fields. Here's an overview of his accomplishments:

Inventions and Innovations

Ralph Wedgwood was a pioneer in office copying technology. He invented several devices for copying writings and drawings, with his most influential invention being the forerunner of carbon paper[2]. This innovation revolutionized office work and document reproduction, making it easier to create duplicate copies of important papers.

In addition to his work in copying technology, Wedgwood applied his engineering skills to the pottery industry. He designed machinery and high-temperature beehive-shaped kilns that were crucial for pottery production[4]. These innovations likely contributed to the advancement of pottery manufacturing techniques.

Business Ventures

Wedgwood appears to have been a successful businessman. By 1791, he had opened a London showroom in St Paul's Churchyard, which was the retail center of the ceramic trade at the time[5]. This suggests that he had established himself as a prominent figure in the pottery industry.

Historical Context

It's worth noting that there were several Ralph Wedgwoods throughout history, and some sources might be referring to different individuals. For example, there was a Sir Ralph Wedgwood who served as the Chief Officer of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) for 16 years[3]. However, this Ralph Wedgwood lived in a different time period than the inventor and potter we've primarily discussed.

Contemporary Japanese Figure

Regarding a historical figure of the same age in Japan, it's challenging to provide an exact contemporary without knowing the precise dates of Ralph Wedgwood's life. However, based on the information that he was active in the late 18th century, we can consider a notable Japanese figure from roughly the same period:

Tokugawa Ienari (1773-1841) was the 11th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He ruled from 1787 to 1837, which overlaps with the time when Ralph Wedgwood was active. During Ienari's reign, Japan was still in its period of isolation (sakoku), but there were increasing pressures from Western powers to open up trade. Ienari's rule saw some internal reforms and attempts to address economic issues, although he is often criticized for his extravagant lifestyle.

While Ralph Wedgwood was innovating in pottery and office technology in England, Tokugawa Ienari was governing Japan during a crucial period of its history, just before the significant changes that would come with the opening of Japan to the West in the mid-19th century.

Citations:
[1] https://dornsife.usc.edu/ralph-wedgwood/ralph/
[2] https://www.revolutionaryplayers.org.uk/ralph-wedgwood-pioneer-of-office-copying/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir\_Ralph\_Wedgwood,\_1st\_Baronet
[4] https://todayinsci.com/W/Wedgwood\_Ralph/WedgwoodRalph.htm
[5] https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/features/ralph-wedgwood-figure-maker-1788-98/