Sir Richard Arkwright 2

The School

Arkwrights new invention inspired a lot of jealous rivals. His patents were attacked and declared void and his water frame was illegally copied. However, these cheaters did not have Arkwrights astute mind and by further improvements and good business management, he made his fortune. Arkwright was an astute businessman, and part of his business was to organise the factory system.

Before Arkwight's time, spinning was a cottage industry and much of the weaving was done in a private home. The workmen and women worked irregular hours and the product was very much a 'hit and miss' affair with no guaranteed quality or use.

Arkwight brought his workers into his one factory; his head quarters were in Cromford, Derbyshire. He believed in cleanliness, regularity of hours and established standards of quality and quantity of fabrics produced. He put into practice, the principles of Adam Smith, the Economist.

In 1784, Arkwright went into partnership with David Dale, who brought him to view the Falls of Clyde.

After this they entered into an agreement to establish cotton spinning mills. Dale undertook the excavation of the mill and the building work while Arkwright was in charge of the technical training of Dales men to build and to operate the new spinning frames. In 1785, Dales men were sent from New Lanark to Arkwrights mills in Cromford to be trained for their use. Unfortunately, their partnership dissolved a year later.

After fifty years of age, Arkwright decided to educate himself to fit his new position in life. In 1786, he was knighted by King George the 3rd.