Monument of Lieven Bauwens

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Lieven Bauwens was born in Waaistraat near Ghent's bustling Friday Market on June 14, 1769. A small plaque outside a socialist housing project marks the spot where his birthplace once stood, now a reminder of the entrepreneur's humble beginnings. As a young boy, Bauwens already showed a keen interest in machinery, laying the groundwork for his future success. At just 17 years old, Bauwens was sent by his father to Britain to study the art of tanning, which he would later masterfully modernize at his family's tannery. As an industrial spy, Bauwens made several trips to Britain, where he acquired valuable knowledge and even smuggled back crucial equipment like the Mule Jenny, training personnel on the mainland to bring it into production. These daring exploits earned Bauwens a death sentence from the British authorities, but he continued to innovate and expand his operations. In 1799, he established two cotton spinning mills in Passy, Paris, and another in Ghent's historic Old Abbey of Drongen in 1800. During this time, Bauwens served as mayor of Ghent for one year, navigating the complexities of the French occupation. Bauwens' entrepreneurial spirit caught the attention of Napoleon himself, who visited him in Ghent in 1810 and awarded him the prestigious Cross of the Légion d'honneur. However, financial difficulties ultimately led to Bauwens declaring bankruptcy in 1814. Undeterred, he shifted his focus to processing silk waste, but found little support from the new Dutch government. Despite facing numerous challenges, Bauwens continued to build a legacy that would be remembered for generations to come. Already in 1849, plans were underway to erect a statue in his honor, and in 1866, a design was unveiled on the site where the Lieven Bauwensplein now stands. The city of Ghent eventually erected a bronze statue of Bauwens on Vlaanderenstraat in 1885, a testament to his enduring impact on the region.