George Augustus Lee
His cotton mill in Salford was an early iron-framed building, and he pioneered the use of steam power and gas lighting in industry.He left the following year, to be managing partner in the mill in Salford owned by George and John Philips, Peter Atherton and Charles Wood.He had a quick and almost intuitive perception of the advantages to be derived from applying to useful purposes the great inventions that distinguished the era in which he lived, and the rare faculty of directing them, with energy and perseverance, to the fulfilment of extensive and important designs.Aware of the advantages of the steam-engine soon after the improvements of James Watt, Lee installed steam power for the cotton-spinning machinery.[2][3] The obituary describes his business abilities: "In his mercantile dealings, he was influenced by coolness and solidity of judgment, by a high sense of honour and probity, and by enlarged and comprehensive views of the general principles of commercial policy.