Tech History Made on December 18, 1661

On this day in 1661 Christopher Polhem was born on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Polhem had much trouble with financing his education as he grew up. He loved mathmatics and mechanics but soon realized he needed to learn latin. A vicar gave him lessons in exchange for hand crafting a complex clock. Later he proved himself eligible for enrollment at Uppsala University by repairing 2 clocks for the professor of mathematics.

Polhem made a name for himself by revolutionizing mining in Sweden with his water driven track system for moving ore. In 1699 he built a completely automated factory, powered by water. Automation was unusual at the time and the factory failed due to non acceptance by the workers of the day. The factory was destroyed by a fire in 1734. Rather ironic for a water run factory.


Today, Polhem can be seen on the back of the 500 Swedish kronor bank note. That's a long way to come from earning your education with fixed clocks.