In the early 1760s, Josiah Spode, (1733 - 1797) who as a six-year old had watched his father buried in a pauper's grave, opened his own small pottery. In the space of the next thirty years he was to make a unique contribution to ceramic art, and found a tradition of excellence that continues to this day. In 1784, Josiah Spode perfected the process of blue underglaze printing on earthenware, which, was the essential catalyst for the phenomenal development of English tableware that was to follow. He then went on to make the single most important discovery in the history of his industry - the formula for Fine Bone China - which was to make the name, 'Spode', famous throughout the world. In 1791, Spode's son Josiah Spode (1755 - 1827) took over the running of the business, he was succeeded by his son Josiah Spode (1777 - 1829) in 1827. He was the last Spode family member to be involved in the running of the company as it was sold in 1833.
Reference: The History of Spode (http://www.spode.co.uk/). Accessed November 2001.
From the guide to the Spode Papers, 1749-1970, (Special Collections and Archives, Keele University)
