Richard Arkwright (1732 - 1792)

Born 23 Dec 1732 in Preston, Lancashire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Patience (Holt) Arkwright — married 31 Mar 1755 in Bolton-Le-Moors, Lancashire, England

Husband of Margaret (Biggins) Arkwright — married 24 Mar 1761 in Leigh, Lancashire, England

Descendants

Died 3 Aug 1792 at age 59 in Cromford, Derbyshire, England

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Biography

Richard Arkwright is Notable.

Richard Arkwright was born on 23 December 1732 in Preston, Lancashire,^[1] into a family of humble circumstances. His father, Thomas, was a tailor in Preston. Yet Richard died a very wealthy man and his children married into the landed gentry. Richard's factory methods^[2] did more to change history than any statesman.

Richard Arkwright became rich and famous because of his implementation of his 'water frame', a water-driven cotton mill ^[3] , as well as many other innovations.

He was knighted in 1786 ^[4] and passed away on 03 August 1792 at his factory works at Cromford. ^[5] Two thousand people came to his funeral.

The Arkwright Society was founded in 1972 after the festival celebrating the bicentennial of the 'world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill' in 1771. The Society purchased the near derelict Cromford Mills Site in 1979 and now runs the site as a visitor attraction, with educational facilities, events, shops, two restaurants and workspaces for small businesses. 2016 saw the much awaited opening of the Visitor Gateway & Arkwright Experience.^[6]

Will

Sir Richard made his will four days before his death, on 29 July 1792. He left:

• £500 per year to his wife;
• £10,000 to his daughter Susannah wife of Charles Hurt Esq;
• £5,000 to each grandchild at age 21 or marriage;
• £100 to each sister;
• £50 to each nephew and niece, except
• William Melling £30 per year;
• residue to son Richard Arkwright,
• who was to complete the chapel at Cromford and provide £50 per year to a minister.
  

Executors and trustees were Richard Arkwright and William Strutt the younger of Derby.

The will was proved at London on 4 September 1792 by Richard Arkwright.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks: Baptism: 31 Dec 1732 St John, Preston, Lancashire, England: Richard Arkwright - Son of Thomas Arkwright; Born: 23 (Dec 1732); Register: Baptisms 1725 - 1752, Page 88, Entry 4; Source: LDS Film 1278740
2. ↑ http://spartacus-educational.com/IRarkwright.htm
3. ↑ http://www.belper-research.com/people/arkwright/arkwright_family.html
4. ↑ https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Arkwright,_Sir_Richard
5. ↑ https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Arkwright,_Sir_Richard
6. ↑ https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/
7. ↑ National Archives reference PROB 11/1222/234

See also:

• R S Fitton. The Arkwrights: Spinners of Fortune. Manchester University Press, 1989; reprinted Derwent Valley Mills Educational Trust, 2012.
• See Burkes landed Gentry 18th edition for Arkwright of Sutton Scarsdale for details
• Wikipedia
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/arkwright_richard.shtml
• http://www.heeve.com/modern-history/richard-arkwright-the-father-of-the-modern-factory-system.html
• http://spartacus-educational.com/IRarkwright.htm
• Derwent Valley Mills Biography

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Dawn Orcutt for starting this profile.