Birmingham is a large city in the English West Midlands and is now the second largest conurbation outside of London. During the Victorian era, the population swelled from 150,000 (1831) to over 500,000 (1901). It was known for its industrialization, particularly for iron and metal ware along with commerce. Beyond mechanical innovation, Birmingham is also celebrated for its intellectual, scientific, and cultural advances and was home to renowned polymath Joseph Priestly.