Today, 14th July, saw the death of John “Iron Mad” Wilkinson back in 1808. He earned his nickname, but not through his building of some of the earliest iron boats, which many people thought he was crazy to expect them to float. It was because he was just madly enthusiastic about everything that iron could be used for.
Therefore, it came as no surprise when he asked to be buried in an iron coffin, when he died. However, he died in Staffordshire, leaving the problem of getting a rather heavy iron coffin from the Midlands up to Cumbria, where he was to be interred in Lindale.
However, the journey was made and today a memorial to him now stands – made of iron, of course.
Therefore, it came as no surprise when he asked to be buried in an iron coffin, when he died. However, he died in Staffordshire, leaving the problem of getting a rather heavy iron coffin from the Midlands up to Cumbria, where he was to be interred in Lindale.
However, the journey was made and today a memorial to him now stands – made of iron, of course.