Chapter 21: Significant People

James Hargreaves

Hargreaves is responsible for the invention of the spinning jenny, a simple, inexpensive hand powered tool that would modernize the textile industry. Cotton goods became much cheaper, and they were bought and treasured by all classes. This brought about dramatic change from the past, where only the wealthy could afford the comfort of underwear and other textile "luxuries". Now millions were able to afford undergarments and this substantially increased the quality of life for all the classes.

Richard Arkwright

Arkwright would invent the water frame, a machine similar to the spinning jenny but with one key difference; the water frame had a capacity of several hundred spindles and used waterpower. Because of the need for waterpower, the water frame required a highly specialized mill and as many as a thousand workers to operate it properly. These mills would end up being the first factories, and this would be another factor in the rapid industrialization of Europe.

Josiah Wedgwood

Wedgwood was the perfecter of jasperware, a fine-grained pottery usually made in "Wedgwood blue" with white decorations. He is also well known for his development of the factory system. He worked tremendously hard to have his workers strive for perfection in their work, and he would often fine his workers for things like drinking on the job or wasting material. This would go on to be a template for many other factories of the time.