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Entry TypePerson
SurnameStrutt
ForenamesJedediah
PlaceBelper
Epithetinventor, hosier and cotton spinner
Dates1726-1797
BiographyIndustrial Revolution pioneer who founded Belper Mills in 1778 and Milford in 1782.

Born in South Normanton, son of a farmer and maltster, he was apprenticed as a wheelwright at Findern but became interested in manufacteuring developments. Inventor of the Derby Rib machine for stocking making which was patented in 1759. Partnership with Samuel Need and Richard Arkwright in the development of Cromford Mill and the Waterframe the first of its kind in the world. Married Elizabeth Woollatt who bore him 5 children. Elizabeth died in London in 1770. He re-married Anne Cantrell. He started his mill at Belper in 1777. Strutt was a Unitarian who built Field House Chapel at Belper and provided houses for his workforce.

At the age of 14 Jedediah had been apprenticed for 7 years as a wheelwright to Ralph Massey of Findern, Derbyshire, lodging with the Woollatt family. Little is known of the seven years of his life after completing this apprenticeship, but in 1754, on the death of an uncle, he took over a farm in Blackwell, Derbyshire. In 1755 he married Elizabeth Woollatt, whose brother William Woollatt was in the hosiery trade, and in 1758 Jedidiah obtained patents No. 722 and 1759 No. 734 for the Derby Rib Attachment, which when used in conjunction with Lee's Frame Work Knitting Machine produced ribbed hose by machine. Jedidiah moved to Derby and went into partnership with his brother-in-law William Woollatt and began a very successful hosiery business. William Strutt (1731-1800) his younger brother was also involved as this business was short of capital they sought the financial backing of Samuel Need, a wealthy Nottingham hosiery manufacturer, and the Need, Strutt & Woollatt partnership was formed. The Derby Rib patent expired in 1773, by which time Strutt had amassed a considerable fortune.
Place of BirthSouth Normanton
Place of DeathFriar Gate House, Derby
Authorised Form of NameStrutt; Jedediah (1726-1797); inventor, hosier and cotton spinner

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