The 18th-century potter who became the world’s first tycoon
The name “Josiah Wedgwood” doesn’t pique the interest of most tech bros.
He didn’t grace stages clad in a black turtleneck. He didn’t build a steel or railroad empire. He wasn’t the richest man of all time, or the most powerful. But nearly 300 years ago, in a small village in the English hills, he revolutionized the way the world thought about business and entrepreneurship — by making pottery.
Wedgwood has been called the “first tycoon,” the “Steve Jobs” of the 18th century, and “one of the most innovative retailers the world has ever seen.” Scholars regard him as both the father of modern marketing and the creator of the first luxury brand.
In his quest to invent and sell ceramic wares, he pioneered sales techniques like money back guarantees, free delivery, and “influencer” marketing.
This is the story of a small-time potter from the middle of nowhere who turned a “rude uncultivated craft” into a thriving global industry.