Mahogany Furniture

One Dr Gibbon, of Covent Garden, is said to be responsible for mahogany becoming such a popular furniture wood in the 18th Century.  It had been dismissed as being too hard for the tools of the time, but Doctor Gibbon insisted his joiners use tools of a harder temper.  The results were so attractive his many friends, including the Duchess of Buckingham, then wanted furniture made of the same wood.