Always Has Been: Chapter 1: Abraham Darby I and the Coke Smelting Innovation

In 1723, Abraham Darby I revolutionized the metallurgy industry by refining the process of smelting iron using coke instead of charcoal. This pivotal advancement leveraged coke's abundance and cost-effectiveness, compared to traditional charcoal, enhancing production efficiency. It marked a key shift towards the Industrial Revolution by slashing iron production costs and scaling output, which fueled growth in construction, transportation, and manufacturing industries, spurring economic and technological advancements.