James Hargreaves

Lore & Background

James Hargreaves was born at Stanhill, Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire. He was described as 'stout, broadest man of about five-foot ten, or rather more'. He was illiterate and worked as a hand loom weaver during most of his life. He married and baptismal records show he had 13 children, of whom the author Baines in 1835 was aware of '6 or 7'.

The spinning jenny was invented in 1764–1765. The idea is said to have come when a one-thread spinning wheel was overturned on the floor, and Hargreaves saw both the wheel and the spindle continuing to revolve. He realized that if several spindles were placed upright and side by side, several threads might be spun at once. The spinning jenny was confined to producing cotton weft threads and was unable to produce yarn of sufficient quality for the warp. Hargreaves built a jenny for himself and sold several to his neighbours. His invention was initially welcomed by other hand spinners until they saw a fall in the price of yarn. Opposition caused Hargreaves to leave for Nottingham, where the cotton hosiery industry benefited from the increased provision of suitable yarn. In Nottingham he made jennies for a man named Shipley, and on 12 June 1770 he was granted a patent, which provided the basis for legal action (later withdrawn) against Lancashire manufacturers. With a partner, Thomas James, Hargreaves ran a small mill in Hockley and lived in an adjacent house. The business was carried on until he died in 1778 when his wife received a payment of £400.

Reader's Guide

Hargreaves' spinning jenny was a pivotal invention in the Industrial Revolution, enabling a single worker to spin multiple threads at once. However, its significance is tempered by limitations: it could only produce weft yarn, not warp-quality yarn, which was later supplied by Arkwright's water frame. Hargreaves' contribution has been subject to dispute. False claims were made as early as 1828 by Richard Guest, introducing errors that persisted. A ferocious legal battle in the 1780s to annul Arkwright's patents saw Thomas Highs claim he was the true inventor of both the spinning frame and the spinning jenny. Conflicting evidence was canvassed, and although Arkwright's patents were annulled, the question of authorship was not settled. Additionally, a myth that the 'jenny' was named after Hargreaves' wife or daughter has been refuted; records show neither bore that name. The term 'jenny' refers to an engine, a common Lancashire slang term. Hargreaves did not die in the workhouse, as had been claimed. His legacy is as one of three men responsible for mechanising spinning, alongside Arkwright and Crompton.

Did You Know?

• Hargreaves was illiterate and worked as a hand loom weaver for most of his life.
• The spinning jenny was confined to producing cotton weft threads and could not produce warp-quality yarn.
• Hargreaves' patent was granted on 12 June 1770, but legal action against Lancashire manufacturers was later withdrawn.
• Neither Hargreaves' wife nor any of his daughters bore the name Jenny; 'jenny' was a slang term for an engine.