biography
| name: |
Arkwright, Sir Richard
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1732–92)
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| biography:
| Inventor of mechanical cotton-spinning, born in Preston, Lancashire, NW England, UK. He became a barber in Bolton, later (with John Kay) devoting himself to inventions in cotton-spinning. In 1768 he set up his celebrated spinning-frame in Preston - the first machine that could produce cotton thread of sufficient strength to be used as warp. He introduced several mechanical processes into his factories, and many of his rivals copied his designs. Popular opinion went against him on the grounds that his inventions reduced the need for labour, and in 1779 his large mill near Chorley was destroyed by a mob. He was knighted in 1786. |
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