Chances are there is a piece of Wedgewood pottery somewhere in your family china closets. For the beauty, durability, and ubiquity of this famous name, we can thank Josiah Wedgewood, born (we think) on February 13, 1730, in Staffordshire, England. He struck out from the family pottery business to invent new designs and modern methods of manufacture, workplace safety, and marketing. Wedgewood invented showrooms, money-back guarantees and even “Buy One, Get One Free”! While
Wedgewood created china for royalty, he also developed affordable and durable lines for ordinary folks.

As a Unitarian philanthropist, Wedgewood espoused the cause of abolition of slavery. His design for an anti-slavery medallion was the most well-known image of a black man of the time. Copies were made for posters and for clay pipes. (Wikipedia).

Josiah and his wife, Sarah, had eight children. They were the grandparents of Charles and Emma Darwin (who were cousins).