Inventors and Inventions

Jethro Tull invented the seed drill.

Jan 27, 1701

He decided that scattering the seeds across the ground in the normal way was wasteful. He invented this so seeds good be spread in well spaced rows at specific depths.

Charles Townshend invented crop rotation

Jan 27, 1729

This was a system where one year a farmer would plant something that took a lot of soil nutrients, then the next year he would plant something that restored nutrients.

John Kay invents the fyling shuttle.

Jan 27, 1733

This was an invention where the yarn would move back and forth and it greatly incresed the productivity of weavers.

James Hargreaves invents the spinning jenny.

Jan 27, 1764

This invention was called the spinny Jenny after his daughter. It allowed one spinner to work 8 threads at one time.

Richard Arkwright invents the waterframe

Jan 28, 1769

This machine used water power from rapid streams to drive the spinning wheels.

Samuel Crompton invents the spinning mule

Jan 28, 1779

This was made with features of the spinning jenny and the water frame to make thread that was stronger, finer, and more consistent than any of the other early spinning machines.

Edward Cartwright invents the power loom

Jan 28, 1785

This was powered by water and it sped up weaving.

Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin

Jan 28, 1793

With the increased productivity of the weaving machines the demand for cotton went up. Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin to speed up removing seeds from raw cotton and cotton production went up from 1.5 million to 85 million.