Arkwright, Sir Richard (1732-1792), was a British inventor and manufacturer. In 1769, he patented a spinning machine, which was called the water frame because water powered it. Sets of rollers turning at different speeds drew cotton from the carding machine, which straightened out the fibers. Spindles then twisted the cotton into thread. The water frame made hard, firm, and rather coarse thread.
Arkwright and two manufacturers started cotton mills that combined the various manufacturing processes of machine carding, drawing, roving, and spinning in one operation. Such organization of manufacturing processes contributed to the development of modern factories.
In 1781, Arkwright’s patent was challenged and finally canceled on the grounds of previous invention and deliberately vague and confusing specifications. It is now generally agreed that while Arkwright knew of earlier work on the machine, he added mechanical details that made it work. But his prosperity did not suffer seriously when he lost his patent. His experience and business ability helped him keep his advantage. He was knighted in 1786 and died a wealthy man on Aug. 3, 1792.
Arkwright was born on Dec. 23, 1732, in Preston. He became a barber’s apprentice and developed a method of dyeing hair, which he sold to wigmakers. Arkwright then spent the money that he gained from this on his invention.
