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This book was first published in 1966. It was surprising that so small and so remote a country as Switzerland should have played such an important part in the industrial revolution on the Continent in the nineteenth century. A lack of natural resources and basic raw materials and population of 1,687,000 in 1817, faraway trade ports, and until 1848 no real central government with the administrative structure to support expansion of manufacturers. However, the people were hardworking, thrifty and high standards of workmanship; and had good relations with France and Germany, which saw the watchmakers, silkweavers and chocolate crafters start to thrive. Johann Conrad Fischer was typical of the entrepreneurs who laid the foundations of Switzerland's prosperity with his steelworks.