Farey, John (1791 - 1851)

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English mechanical engineer, writer, artist, editor and technical consultant, who also wrote under the pseudonyms John Nicholson and Thomas Martin.

Farey belonged to the first generation of English practical mechanics. His interests were expressed varied - in addition to engineering, he worked on chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, geometry, geology and theology. He was a prolific author and has written under his own name, under pseudonyms and anonymous numerous articles, technical books and articles in encyclopedias. To increase the speed of drawing, he used William Hyde Wollaston's "Camera Lucida". Farey was consulted by many prominent inventors who needed his advice for the application and enforcement of patent claims. He used the collected data for his numerous publications and images. In addition, he worked as an inventor. He designed over a long slide (the precise mathematical calculations enabled), introduced rules for drawing perspective and a device for accurately drawing an ellipse, and dealt with the production of the "Steam Engine Indicators" of Watts. Although he was one of the most distinguished engineers of his time and his work is considered one of the best of his time, he received no public recognition during his lifetime.

variant spelling:
Farey, John; Nicholson, J.; ; Martin, Thomas; Farey, Jr., John

Curriculum vitae

* 20.03.1791	Lambeth	born
1813	London	Invention of a machine for drawing an ellipse
1814	Paris	Patent agent for Textile Machinery
1819	Sankt Petersburg	Study trip
1820 - 1821	London	Production of steam engine indicators
1821 - 1823	Tiverton	Manufacturer of textile machinery
1825 - 1826	Holbeck	Chief engineer in the "Marshall's Flax Mill"
1826	London	Member of the "Institution of Civil Engineers"
† 17.07.1851	Sevenoaks	died

Collections

Industrial Revolution, ca. 1780-1850

Literature

	Der praktische Mechaniker und Manufacturist Author: Farey, John Published: 1826
	Treatise on the steam engine, historical, practical and descriptive Author: Farey, John Published: 1827
	The operative Mechanic and British machinist ; beeing a practical arts of the nited kingdom Author: Farey, John Published: 1825
	The Circle Of The Mechanical Arts ; Containing Practical Treatises On The Various Manual Arts, Trades, And Manufactures ; Illustrated by numerous Engravings Author: Farey, John Published: 1813
	Der praktische Mechaniker und Manufacturist, oder gemeinnützige Erläuterung der mechanischen Künste und Fabriken England's Author: Farey, John Published: 1834

Secondary literature

	Studienmaterial zur Vorlesung Geschichte der Technikwissenschaften/Maschinenwesen: Von den Anfängen bis zur Herausbildungsperiode (1850) Author: Mauersberger, Klaus Published: 1983
	John Farey and the Smeaton manuscripts, in: History and technology Author: Woolrich, A.P. Published: 1985
	John Farey, jr. (1791-1851), engineer and polymath, in: History and technology Author: Woolrich, A.P. Published: 1997
	John Farey, jr, technical author and draughtsman - his contribution to Rees's Cyclopaedia, in: Industrial archaeology review Author: Woolrich, A.P. Published: 1998
	John Farey and his Treatise on the steam engine (1827), in: History and technology Author: Woolrich, A.P. Published: 2000
	Die Entwicklung der Zahnrad-Technik ; Zahnformen und Tragfähigkeitsberechnungen Author: Seherr-Thoss, Hans Christoph Graf von Published: 1965

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Permanent links

DMG-Lib		https://www.dmg-lib.org/dmglib/handler?biogr=1419004
Europeana		http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/2020801/dmglib_handler_biogr_1419004.html
GBV		http://gso.gbv.de/PPN?PPN=364358874