Sir Richard Arkwright (23 December 1732 in Preston, - 3 August 1792 in Cromford) was an inventor and a leading entrepreneur during the early
Industrial Revolution. Although the patents were eventually overturned, he is credited with inventing the
spinning frame, which, following the transition to
water power, was renamed the
water frame. He also patented a rotary
carding engine that transformed raw cotton into cotton lap.