John Lombe (18th Century)

John Lombe was a silk spinner in 18th century Derby, England.

In 1718, Thomas Lombe was able to obtain a patent, which stated that it was for:

three sorts of engines never before made or used within this our Kingdom of Great Britain, one to wind finest raw silk, another to spin and the other to twist the finest Italian raw silk into organzine in great perfection which was never before done in this our Kingdom, by which means many thousand families of our subjects may be constantly employed in Great Britain, be furnished with silks of all sorts of the manufacture of our subjects, and great quantities exported into foreign parts by being made as good and cheap as any foreign silk can be.

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