James Hargreaves James Hargreaves James Hargreaves (c. 1720 – 22 April 1778) was a weaver, carpenter and inventor in Lancashire, England. He was one of three inventors responsible for mechanising spinning. Hargreaves is credited with inventing the spinning jenny in 1764, Richard Arkwright patented the water frame in 1769, and Samuel Crompton combined the two creating the spinning mule in 1779. James Hargreaves was born at Stanhill, Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire. He was described as "stout, broadest man of about five-foot ten, or rather more". He was illiterate and worked as a hand loom weaver during most of his life. He married and
Spinning wheel which is closer to the direct translation of the French "un fuseau". Spinning wheels are also integral to the plot or characterization in the Scottish folk tale "Habitrot" and the German tales "The Three Spinners". and "The Twelve Huntsmen" Louisa May Alcott, most famous as the author of "Little Women", wrote a collection of short stories called "Spinning-Wheel Stories", which were not about spinning wheels but instead meant to be read while engaging in the rather tedious act of using a spinning wheel. In 1814, Franz Schubert composed "Gretchen am Spinnrade", a lied for piano and voice based on a