Sir Richard, celebrated for his invention of machinery in spinning and carding cotton, was originally a country barber in poor circumstances, but acquired by his inventions a very great fortune. About the year 1767, when he had quitted the profession of a barber, and went up and down the country buying hair, he came to Warrington. At that time, it is said, he had some mechanical project in view, of the nature of a perpetual motion. One John Kay, a clockmaker of that place, becoming acquainted with him, endeavoured to dissuade him from this scheme, but said that much money might be made by spinning cotton, which he promised to describe to him. Arkwright urged as an objection, that that scheme had been the ruin of many; but he came to Kay's bedside next morning, and asked him if he could make a small engine at a moderate expense, as this Kay had been employed to make a cotton-spinning engine for a Mr Hayes, who likewise employed himself in making cylindrical carding engines, and who was brought as a witness on the trial in which Arkwright's patent was set aside in 1785. Mr Hayes proved, that he had invented an engine of a similar construction to Arkwright's, but had not brought it to perfection. Arkwright and Kay made application to Peter Atherton, Esq. now of Liverpool, to make such an engine; but he refused to undertake it, from the external poverty of the former, although on the evening of the same day he undertook to give Kay the use of a smith, and watch-tool maker, to make the heavier parts of the engine; and Kay agreed to instruct the workmen, and to make the clockmakers share of it. In this manner Arkwright's Noah's Ark

Floating on the waters of the deluge

Fig. 1.

Ark of the Covenant

Fig. 2. Arkwright's first engine was made, for which he afterwards took out a patent. Mr Arkwright went into partnership soon after with Mr Smalley of Preston in Lancashire; but being at a loss for money, they went to Nottingham, and there, by the assistance of some rich individuals, erected a considerable cotton mill, which was turned by horses.

The report generally circulated through the manufacturing towns is, that he borrowed these inventions, and that he enriched himself at other men's expense and ingenuity. From all accounts, however, it appears, that the cotton-spinning was no new attempt at the time Mr Arkwright engaged in it, but an object which had been the subject of much attention; but as it had not succeeded, it would accordingly happen, that more difficulties were to be overcome, and subjects of subordinate inventions to be digested, and brought to maturity and effect. Although the carding and spinning of cotton before Mr Arkwright engaged in it was hardly any thing, yet it became a great national manufacture through his means. He states in his case, as drawn by himself, that one Paul and others of London, about 40 or 50 years previous to his time, having invented an engine for spinning cotton, obtained a patent for it, after which they repaired to Nottingham; and there, after having been assisted by several persons, and much money had been expended on the undertaking, many families had been ruined by the failure of their scheme;—that various engines had been constructed by different persons, for spinning cotton, flax, wool, &c. into several threads at once, about 20 or 30 years back, but that no real advantage had been derived from them; and that an engine was constructed in 1767, by one Hargrave of Blackwell in Lancashire, which would at once spin 20 or 30 threads of cotton into yarn for the full manufacture, but that after his engine had been destroyed by popular tumults in Lancashire, he removed to Nottingham, where for a while he practised under a patent; but an association being formed against him, his patent was rendered null, and at length he died in obscurity and distress; that he, Arkwright, had invented certain engines for spinning and carding, which had taken about five years in bringing them to perfection; and after 12,000l. had been expended upon them, they had neither produced advantage or profit either to him or his partners. As it must be allowed, that he did not think to make his scheme to bear all at once, he must certainly be considered as the person who after many others had been unsuccessful, engaged in a national undertaking, did display so much skill, perseverance, and activity, as to make it not only productive of value to himself, but likewise to the nation at large.

It appears, from these various accounts, that the object in which Sir Richard Arkwright was engaged, is of the greatest national value; that from his various exertions, he is deserving both of the respect and admiration of the world; and, that although his family is enriched, the benefits which the nation have received are incalculably greater.

On the 22d of December, 1786, upon presenting an address from the high sheriff and hundred of Wirksworth, he was knighted by his present majesty, and died August 3, 1793, at his works at Crumford, in Derbyshire. (Gen. Biog.)