Sir Richard Arkwright

Sir Richard Arkwright (1732-1792) was an English inventor and industrialist, born at Preston, Lancashire, bred to the trade of a barber, took interest in the machinery of cotton-spinning, and with the help of a clockmaker, invented the spinning frame. In 1767, he got a water-powered spinning machine patented, which was known as the spinning jenny.

He was mobbed for threatening thereby to shorten labour and curtail wages, and had to flee. He fell in with Mr. Strutt of Derby, who entered into partnership with him, prospered in business and died worth half a million.

"French Revolutions were a-brewing; to resist the same in any way, Imperial Cæsars were impotent without the cotton and cloth of England; and it was this man," says Carlyle, "that had to give to England the power of cotton".