son of watch and clock maker Robert Brunton of Dalkeith, Scotland

1790-1796 - employed at New Lanark cotton mills in the fitting shops

1796-1808 - employed at Soho works of Boulton and Watt

1808-1815 - employed at William Jessop's Butterley Iron Works, Derbyshire

1815-1825 -partner and engineering manager at the Eagle Foundry, Birmingham, works of Francis, Smith, Dearman and Brunton

1825 - moved to London