 In 1812, William Brunton, an engineer for the company, produced his remarkable Steam Horse locomotive

In 1817, in the depression following the Napoleonic Wars, the works at Butterley was the scene of the Pentrich Revolution.The intention of the rebels was to kill the three senior managers and ransack the works for weapons.When they arrived they were confronted by George Goodwin the factory agent, who, with a few constables, faced them down.