Manchester City of Firsts

Manchester has long been a city to pave the way with the wealth of innovations, economy and ideas of society it has produced over the decades. Manchester’s the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and the first stored program computer. It’s where the atom was split and the world’s thinnest, strongest and conductive 2D material, graphene was isolated. Ambition, creativity and pioneering new way of working are at the core of the city’s DNA.

About Techcelerate Ventures

Tech Investment and Growth Advisory for Series A in the UK, operating in £150k to £5m investment market, working with #SaaS #FinTech #HealthTech #MarketPlaces and #PropTech companies.

Manchester city graphene Bridgewater Canal material purpose built world s work Street

About Techcelerate Ventures

Tech Investment and Growth Advisory for Series A in the UK, operating in £150k to £5m investment market, working with #SaaS #FinTech #HealthTech #MarketPlaces and #PropTech companies.

Manchester city graphene Bridgewater Canal material purpose built world s work Street

<p>1600
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1800
1900
2000
2016
The first UK city to be 
awarded the prestigious 
accolade of European 
City of Science 
acknowledging Manchester’s 
innovative endeavours in 
science and technology.
Manchester
A city of firsts
“What Manchester does today – the world does tomorrow” 
Benjamin Disraeli, former British Prime Minister 
Manchester has long been a city to pave the way with the 
wealth of innovations, economy and ideas of society it has 
produced over the decades. Manchester’s the birthplace 
of the Industrial Revolution and the first stored program 
computer. It’s where the atom was split and the world’s 
thinnest, strongest and conductive 2D material, graphene 
was isolated. Ambition, creativity and pioneering new way 
of working are at the core of the city’s DNA.
1653
The UK’s first free 
public library built in 
Manchester.
1761
The Bridgewater Canal 
opened; the first totally 
artificial waterway 
independent of natural rivers.
1773
The first steamboats 
operated on the 
Bridgewater Canal.
1783
Richard Arkwright set up 
the first mill to use steam 
power on Miller Street in 
the city centre, paving the 
way for mass production 
techniques.
1803
John Dalton’s atomic theory 
with its pioneering work on the 
constitution of elements was the 
precursor of all modern chemistry.
1815
Vegetarianism began in the UK, 
inspired by the sermons of the 
Reverend William Cowherd at the 
Salford Bible Christian church.
1824
The first bus route ran 
from Market Street in 
Manchester to Salford.
1830
The world’s first passenger 
railways started operating 
from a purpose built station on 
Liverpool Road, Manchester.
1844
Manchester was the birth 
place of the worldwide  
co-operative movement.
1850
The first law in 
thermodynamics was 
discovered in Manchester 
by James Prescott Joule.
1853
John Benjamin Dancer, 
working from 43 
Cross Street, invented 
microphotography  
and microfilms.
1858
The Hallé Orchestra 
became the first 
professional permanent 
orchestra, set up by 
German conductor 
Charles Hallé.
1868
The first general 
meeting of the Trade 
Union Congress took 
place in the Three 
Crowns pub in Salford.
1880
The first mechanically 
powered submarine was 
launched to the designs of 
eccentric Hulme curate, the 
Reverend George Garrett.
1888
The first professional 
football league was 
established at the Royal 
hotel, Manchester.
1893
The first and only 
swing aqueduct in 
the world was 
built at Barton – 
it carries 
the Bridgewater 
Canal over the 
Ship Canal.
1896
The first purpose built industrial 
estate was created at Trafford Park.
1903
Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst founded the 
Women’s Social and Political Union in her 
home, which still stands on Nelson Street. The 
aim of the organisation was to recruit working 
class women into the struggle for the vote.
1904
Frederick Royce met Charles 
Rolls in the Midland Hotel and 
set up the famous company 
which bears their names.
1908
The first British plane 
was designed and 
flown by A V Roe.
1917
Ernest Rutherford 
discovered how 
to split the atom 
at Manchester 
University.
1919
Alcock and Brown, both 
Manchester Central High 
School students, were 
the first to fly the Atlantic 
Ocean non-stop.
1948
The first computer with 
a stored program and 
memory, nicknamed 
‘baby’, was developed 
at Manchester University.
1980
Manchester became 
the first British 
Nuclear Free City.
2002
The Commonwealth 
Games, held in 
Manchester, became 
the largest 
multi-sport event ever 
hosted in the UK.
2004
Professors Andre Geim and Kostya 
Novoselov isolate graphene, the 
world’s first 2D material, at the 
University of Manchester.
2005
First 3D printer of human 
tissue developed at the 
University of Manchester.
2010
Scientists awarded the Nobel Prize for 
Physics for their work on Graphene, the 
world’s thinnest and most conductive 
material, becoming the city’s 24th and 
25th Nobel Laureates.
2011
MediaCityUK, Europe’s largest 
purpose-built digital and media 
hub awarded the status of 
the world’s first sustainable 
community by BREEAM.
2012
The 2012 Olympics – the 
world’s first interactive 
tapeless sporting event 
– is broadcast from 
MediaCityUK.
2015
The National Graphene 
Institute opens pioneering 
research into the ground-
breaking material.
2017
Sir Henry Royce Institute 
for Advanced Materials 
- The Royce Institute 
will be a world-leading 
facility for the discovery 
and translation of new 
materials and advanced 
manufacturing providing 
growth to the entire UK 
manufacturing base.
2017
Graphene Engeeniring 
Innovation Centre - 
Together with the NGI, 
GEIC will provide an 
unrivalled critical mass 
of graphene expertise. 
The two facilities will 
reinforce Manchester’s 
position as a globally 
leading knowledge-base 
in graphene research 
and commercialisation.
</p>