Richard Arkwright
Textile entrepreneur; developer of the spinning frame (known as the water frame) · United Kingdom · On the map · Founders · Lived 1732 to 1792 · aged 59
Sir Richard Arkwright was an English inventor and a leading entrepreneur during the early Industrial Revolution.
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He is credited as the driving force behind the development of the spinning frame, known as the water frame after it was adapted to use water power; and he patented a rotary carding engine to convert raw cotton to 'cotton lap' prior to spinning. He was the first to develop factories housing both mechanised carding and spinning operations.