He became a French citizen in 1810 and, in 1813, imported a Watt steam engine. Cockerill's success grew during the Napoleonic blockade when Continental Europe was effectively cut off from English industrial products. His factory became famous, with half its machines exported to France. William Cockerill became tremendously rich and retired in 1813, passing his business to his son John Cockerill. William Cockerill died at (the home of his son Charles James) in Aachen, Prussia in 1832. Children William Cockerill had three sons: William, Charles James, and John. He also had a daughter, Nancy, who married James Hodson. See also Lieven Bauwens - a Belgian contemporary of Cockerill's who illegally imported an English spinning mule to Flanders in 1798 References Sources also similar work, with extended account of meeting with Napoleon: Similar biography also at either: 1759 births 1832 deaths People from Haslingden English industrialists British blacksmiths 19th-century Belgian businesspeople Manufacturing in Belgium Naturalised citizens of Belgium Recipients of the Legion of Honour Cockerill Company (Belgium) British emigrants to Belgium