Joseph Clement was a British engineer and industrialist.

He was baptised Joseph Clemmet 13 June 1779 at Great Asby in Westmorland, the son of a hand-loom weaver. Although he was taught to read and write at the local school, he learnt mechanics and natural history from his father, Thomas, who had built himself a lathe. He worked, first as a weaver, then as a slater, and learnt metalwork from the local blacksmith. With these skills, he built himself his own lathe, on which he turned woodwind musical instruments, which he then learnt to play.

By 1805 he was making looms at a factory in Kirkby Stephen, then moved first to Carlisle, then to Glasgow where he learnt draughtsmanship from Peter Nicholson. By 1812 he was with Leys, Masson & Co in Aberdeen, where he attended lectures in natural philosophy at Marishal College.

In 1813 he moved to London, first at Galloway in Holborn then progressing to be works manager for Joseph Bramah at Pimlico. By 1815 he was chief draughtsman for Maudsaly, Son and Field. He set up his own firm in 1817 at 21 Prospect Place, Southwark, specialising in technical drawing precision machinery.

It was in 1823 that Charles Babbage employed him on his project to design and build his mechanical calculating device, the difference engine. The high prices of his large precision tools led to a falling out with Babbage, but his skill and the quality of his products kept him in employment for many years.

He introduced headless and fluted screw-cutting taps, and urged the adoption of a standard system of screw threads (one of his employees was Joseph Whitworth. He was awarded three medals by the Society for the Encouragement of Arts.

In later years he returned to music, and constructed an organ. He died on 28 February 1844 at 31 St George’s Road, Southwark. Although he had never married, he had a "natural" daughter, Sarah Clement, by one Agnes Esson from County Durham.

Source: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography