Industrial cotton production and its impact on dress (Lancashire and American mills) (c. 1800–1870)

1. Slater Mill begins U.S. water-powered cotton spinning

   Jan 1, 1793Labels: Slater Mill, Pawtucket

   • NPS
   • LOC

2. Eli Whitney patents the cotton gin

   Mar 14, 1794Labels: Eli Whitney, Cotton Gin

   • Natl Archives

3. Horrocks builds improved early British power loom

   Jan 1, 1803Labels: William Horrocks, Power Loom

   • Horrocks Loom

4. Manchester’s Exchange opens amid cotton boom

   Jan 1, 1809Labels: Manchester Exchange, Manchester

   • Royal Exchange
   • Cottonopolis

5. Boston Manufacturing Company organized at Waltham

   Jan 1, 1813Labels: Boston Manufacturing, Francis Cabot

   • NPS Lowell
   • HBS Baker

6. Waltham mill launches the Waltham–Lowell system

   Jan 1, 1814Labels: Waltham Mill, Waltham Lowell

   • NPS Lowell
   • Waltham Museum

7. Merrimack Manufacturing Company begins Lowell operations

   Jan 1, 1823Labels: Merrimack Manufacturing, Lowell

   • Lowell History
   • Merrimack Co

8. Lancashire power-loom riots erupt against mechanization

   Apr 24, 1826Labels: Handloom Weavers, Lancashire Riots

   • Power loom Riots

9. Roberts cast-iron power loom introduced

   Jan 1, 1830Labels: Richard Roberts, Cast-iron Loom

   • Roberts Loom

10. Lowell Offering begins publishing mill-worker writings

    Jan 1, 1840Labels: Lowell Offering, Mill Workers

    • Lowell Offering
    • Smithsonian

11. Lancashire Loom invented for semi-automatic weaving

    Jan 1, 1842Labels: Lancashire Loom, Bullough &

    • Lancashire Loom

12. Great Exhibition showcases industrial textiles

    May 1, 1851Labels: Great Exhibition, Crystal Palace

    • Great Exhibition

13. Perkin discovers mauveine, first commercial synthetic dye

    Jan 1, 1856Labels: William Perkin, Mauveine

    • ScienceHist
    • ACS

14. American Civil War triggers Lancashire Cotton Famine

    Jan 1, 1861Labels: Lancashire Cotton, American Civil

    • Cotton Famine
    • Cotton Town

15. Cotton Famine accelerates relief work and retraining

    Jan 1, 1862Labels: Relief Committees, Cotton Famine

    • Cotton Famine
    • Cotton Town

16. International Exhibition of 1862 opens in London

    May 1, 1862Labels: International Exhibition, South Kensington

    • Expo 1862

17. Public Works (Manufacturing Districts) Act aids mill districts

    Jul 2, 1864Labels: Public Works, Manufacturing Districts

    • Cotton Famine