Crompton

Crompton, Samuel, was born at Firwood, near Bolton-le-Moors, in 1753, and, as the son of a small farmer, was brought up to field labour. The loss of his father drove him to take work in a cotton mill, where his natural genius, aided by the elementary education he picked up in spare moments, enabled him to contrive improvements in machinery. Before 1780 he had invented the spinning mule, which revolutionised the manufacture of cotton goods and saved thousands to employers of labour. Want of means, however, compelled him to divulge his secret to persons who took advantage of him, and he scarcely reaped any benefit from his ingenuity. In his old age Parliament voted him £5,000, but this was lost in attempts to develop his business, and he died a poor man in 1827.