A special service is to be held at Westminster Abbey to dedicate a memorial for legendary Birmingham industrialist Matthew Boulton.
The ceremony on October 17 will mark the achievements of the entrepreneur who was pivotal in the Industrial Revolution.
Birmingham City Council’s flag will be flown from the abbey which will close to accommodate one of Birmingham’s largest civic events outside of the city.
More than 1,000 people are expected for the unveiling of the memorial, which will sit alongside the existing one to James Watt to reflect their partnership and contribution to world history.
Commissioned by the Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT), the tribute to Boulton follows a series of commemorative events held since the bicentenary of his death in 1809.
Toby Watley, director of collections at Birmingham Museums Trust said: “Birmingham Museums is dedicated to preserving and promoting Birmingham’s great cultural, scientific and industrial heritage.
“Matthew Boulton was an incredibly important figure not only for Birmingham but for British and world history. We are delighted that his extraordinary achievements are being recognised by this memorial at Westminster Abbey.”
There has been a memorial to James Watt in Westminster Abbey since 1825 (replaced in 1960), and Boulton’s memorial – the first at the abbey to be constructed of cast iron, will see him finally join his business partner.
Marion Roberts, chairman of the Matthew Boulton memorial advisory board, said: “It was the driving forces of both dedication and collaboration which allowed the two great engineers, Matthew Boulton and James Watt, to give to industry what it most desired – steam power – and which, in turn, would lead to the Industrial Revolution and modern world.”
The dedication service will take place between midday and 1pm.
Entrance is free but by ticket only.
