Innovators and Inventions: The Course to Change, Page 12

Jedediah Strutt

First Textile Industry in the United States

Samuel Slater

Samuel Slater was born in Derbyshire, England in 1768. An early influence on Slater was Jedediah Strutt, whom Slater served under as an apprentice for nearly seven years. Strutt was considered a pioneer in the field of textile technology. During his apprenticeship, Slater gained a vast insight into the mechanics and operations of the textile industry. He not only learned how to operate the machinery, but also how to build and repair such devices. 

 

When his apprenticeship ended, Slater decided to emigrate to the United States. Slater knew that with his keen insight and background, he could secure a prosperous future in America. He departed Great Britain for the United States, keeping his background a secret from British authorities.

Once in America he set about finding a company that would back him financially, so he could start constructing his machinery. By 1793, Slater and his partners had built the first successful textile mill in the United States in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The location proved to be ideal for the industry because of its close proximity to a river with a waterfall in it. The waterfall from the river provided the power for the mill.

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