Biography
(born Dec. 23, 1732, Preston, Lancashire, Eng.—died Aug. 3, 1792, Cromford, Derbyshire) British textile industrialist and inventor. His first spinning machine was patented in 1769 ( Lewis Paul). His water frame (so-called because it operated by waterpower) produced a cotton yarn suitable for warp ( weaving), stronger than thread made on the spinning jenny, which proved suitable only for weft. He introduced all-cotton calico in 1773. He opened several factories equipped with machinery for carrying out the phases of textile manufacturing from carding through spinning ( drawing).
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