Wedgwood, Josiah 1730-95
English potter

Born in Burslem, Staffordshire, he worked in the family pottery business, became a partner in a Staffordshire firm in 1754, and patented a cream-coloured ware (Queen's ware) in 1763. He emulated antique models, producing the unglazed blue Jasper ware with its raised designs in white and the black basalt ware, and, in 1769, he opened a new factory near Hanley, which he called 'Etruria'. His products, and their imitation, were named after him (Wedgwood ware). From 1775 he employed John Flaxman as designer.

Bibliography: Anthony Burton, Josiah Wedgwood (1976)