Samuel Slater

Samuel Slater was born in Derbyshire, England, the son of a successful farmer and landowner. As a youth, Slater was apprenticed to Jedediah Strutt, a partner of the noted British inventor Sir Richard Arkwright. Learning all aspects of the cotton manufacturing industry, Slater worked his way up to supervisor of the Strutt mill.

Britain naturally wanted to maintain its monopoly on textile production and prohibited the exportation of machinery and the emigration of mechanics or engineers with knowledge of those machines. Slater recognized that his information had great value and left England in disguise for New York City in 1789. He later met Moses Brown, a prominent Quaker merchant in Rhode Island. With Brown providing the capital and Slater the carefully memorized specifications for the equipment, the two opened a small mechanized mill in Providence in 1790. In 1793, they moved their operation to Pawtucket, a venture that became the first profitable water-powered mill in America.

Slater eventually owned mills in several states and became one of the country’s leading industrialists. He was also responsible for introducing what was called the “Rhode Island Method” — the practice of hiring entire families, including children, to work in his mills; workers lived in company-owned housing, shopped at company-owned stores, and studied in company-run schools.

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Samuel Slater
... VOLUNTEERING © 2002, Old Slater Mill Association The Story of Samuel Slater Samuel Slater is a major figure in American history and has been called both the "Father of American Industry" and the "Founder of the American Industrial RSamuel Slater Samuel Slater is a major figure in American history and has been called both the "Father of American Industry" and the "Founder of the American Industrial RSamuel Slater is a major figure in American history and has been called both the "Father of American Industry" and the "Founder of the American Industrial Revolution ...
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Samuel Slater of Rhode Island
... Slater Mill, Pawtucket, Rhode Island Samuel Slater of Rhode Island Who was Samuel Slater and what is he famous for?During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Rhode Island became a pioneer in manufacturing in the United States. OSamuel Slater of Rhode Island Who was Samuel Slater and what is he famous for?During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Rhode Island became a pioneer in manufacturing in the United States. OSamuel Slater and what is he famous for?During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Rhode Island became a pioneer in manufacturing in the United States. One of the ...
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Samuel Slater - Father of the American Industrial Revolution
... the construction of the first successful textile mill in 1793: Read the story of Samuel Slater Explore Rhode Island's early mill villages Learn about child labor Tour the Slater Mill Historic Site Visit the Slatersville Mill VillaSamuel Slater Explore Rhode Island's early mill villages Learn about child labor Tour the Slater Mill Historic Site Visit the Slatersville Mill Village Slater ...
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Samuel Slater

Business and Industry, 1768-1835

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