Edmund Cartwright

Definition

Edmund Cartwright was an English inventor and clergyman. He is best known for inventing the power loom in 1785, which mechanized the process of weaving cloth and significantly boosted productivity in the textile industry.

Analogy

Think of Edmund Cartwright as a chef who invented a new kitchen gadget that can chop, dice, and slice all at once. Just like this gadget would revolutionize cooking by making it faster and more efficient, Cartwright's power loom revolutionized the textile industry by speeding up the weaving process.

Related terms

Power Loom: A machine that mechanizes the process of weaving cloth. It was invented by Edmund Cartwright in 1785.

Industrial Revolution: The period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840 when major changes occurred in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport, and technology that had a profound effect on socioeconomic conditions.

Textile Industry: An industry primarily concerned with design or manufacture of clothing as well as distribution of fashion goods such as costumes; it includes industries that produce yarns and fabrics from raw materials.