Thomas Highs and the Controversy of the Industrial Revolution's Spinning Inventions
The history of the Industrial Revolution is often told through the triumphs of a few legendary inventors. However, beneath the surface of established narratives lies a complex web of claims, counter-claims, and legal battles. One of the most enduring disputes involves Thomas Highs, a man who lived in obscurity but is alleged by some historians to be the true mastermind behind the machinery that transformed the global textile industry.
At the heart of the controversy is the question of who actually invented the spinning jenny and the rollers used in the water frame—two pivotal technologies that allowed cotton to be spun into thread at an unprecedented scale and strength.
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Key Facts
- Thomas Highs is claimed by Richard Guest to be the actual inventor of both the spinning jenny and Arkwright's rollers.
- Richard Arkwright patented a comprehensive manufacturing system in 1775, but his patents were eventually overturned in court.
- The water frame produced stronger thread suitable for warp, unlike the spinning jenny, which produced softer thread used for weft.
- Highs provided testimony in 1785 claiming he had created fluted rollers.
- Highs lived in close proximity to other key inventors, including Samuel Crompton, during the development of the spinning mule.
The Battle of Patents and Plagiarism
In 1823, Richard Guest published A History of Cotton Manufacture, asserting that Thomas Highs was the true inventor of the spinning jenny and the rollers central to the water frame. Guest later expanded these claims in a 233-page self-published book, accusing other historians, such as Baines and McCullough, of plagiarism. While Baines dismissed Guest's conjectures in his 1835 work, History of the cotton manufacture in Great Britain, these conflicting accounts have fueled historical debate for over 170 years.
The Arkwright Legal Battles
Sir Richard Arkwright sought to protect his dominance in the industry by patenting a variety of machinery in 1775, covering everything from cleaning and carding to final spinning. He applied for at least five patents specifically related to spinning, including the roving can, the crank and comb, and roller spinning.
However, Arkwright's legal protections were fragile. Between 1781 and 1785, his patents were challenged on four primary grounds: that they were prejudicial to the King's subjects, were not new inventions, were not invented by Arkwright himself, and were insufficiently described. By June 1785, the courts judged that the inventions were not original. During the February 1785 trial, Thomas Highs testified that he had created fluted rollers, though he did not explicitly claim the spinning jenny during his testimony.
The Allegation of Theft
The core of the allegation against Arkwright involves a technical leap in thread production. The spinning jenny, while revolutionary, produced thread that was too soft for warp (the longitudinal threads in a loom) and was only suitable for weft (the transverse threads). Warp thread still had to be made from linen.
It is alleged that Highs solved this by constructing a machine using gripping rollers. By passing roving through two sets of rollers—the second rotating five times faster than the first—the thread was stretched to five times its original length before being twisted by a bobbin and flyer. This produced a much stronger thread suitable for warp.
According to the claim, Highs gave a wooden model of these rollers to a clockmaker named Kay to create a metal version. Arkwright allegedly met Kay in a public house and persuaded him to reveal the secrets of Highs's design. While Arkwright built a fortune and a reputation on these inventions, Highs remained in obscurity.
This narrative was supported by testimony from Kay, Kay's wife, and the widow of James Hargreaves, all of whom claimed Arkwright had stolen the inventions. When the courts set aside Arkwright's patents, some interpreted the ruling to mean that Highs was the rightful inventor.
The Life and Movements of Thomas Highs
Richard Guest meticulously tracked Highs's movements to suggest he was the hidden influence behind several major breakthroughs. Highs's journey took him through the industrial heartlands of England and even to Ireland.
Chronology of Innovation
- 1767–1769: In Leigh, Highs secretly housed a roller-frame and constructed a circular-spindle jenny. He attempted to secure an investor via the Board of Trade in Manchester but failed.
- 1770–1772: He moved to Manchester and built a "double-jenny" with 56 spindles. In 1772, his ten-year-old son presented the machine at the Manchester Exchange, earning Highs a reward of 200 guineas.
- 1772–1776: Highs moved to Barton-upon-Irwell to develop a carding-engine for continuous roving. He later moved to Bolton-le-Moors, where he was a member of the same Swedenborgian religious sect as Samuel Crompton.
The connection to Crompton is particularly notable. Crompton invented the spinning mule—a hybrid of the spinning jenny and the water frame. While Crompton claimed he invented the mule independently, historians note that Highs was one of the few people in Bolton with intimate knowledge of both preceding technologies.
Later Years and Legacy
Following a failed partnership to build a factory in Yorkshire (due to the accidental drowning of his partner, Mr. Smith), Highs worked as a consultant in Nottingham and Kidderminster. In 1780, he managed machinery for Baron Hamilton in Dublin, Ireland, but returned to England in 1785 to testify against Arkwright.
Highs's final years were marked by hardship. After a debilitating stroke around 1790, he was supported by the charity of William Drinkwater, a Manchester cotton spinner. Thomas Highs died on December 13, 1803, at the age of 84.
| Machine | Primary Mechanism | Thread Strength | Primary Use | Attributed Inventor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spinning Jenny | Stretching thread via clove/vice | Soft | Weft | James Hargreaves |
| Water Frame | Dual gripping rollers | Strong | Warp | Richard Arkwright (Contested) |
| Spinning Mule | Hybrid: Moving carriage + Rollers | High/Versatile | Both | Samuel Crompton |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Thomas Highs?
Thomas Highs was a technician and inventor during the Industrial Revolution who is alleged to have been the true inventor of the spinning jenny and the rollers used in the water frame, though he died in relative obscurity.
Why was the water frame superior to the spinning jenny?
The water frame used a system of rollers to stretch the roving, producing a much stronger thread that could be used for warp. The spinning jenny produced a softer thread suitable only for weft.
What happened to Richard Arkwright's patents?
Arkwright's patents were challenged in court and eventually overturned in 1785. The court found that the patents were not sufficiently described and that the inventions were not original to Arkwright.
How did Thomas Highs influence Samuel Crompton?
While not proven, it is suggested that Highs's presence in Bolton and his shared religious affiliation with Crompton may have provided the technical knowledge necessary for Crompton to develop the spinning mule, which combined elements of both the jenny and the water frame.
How did Thomas Highs spend his final years?
After suffering a stroke in 1790, Highs lived in poverty and was supported by a monthly stipend and bi-annual gifts from William Drinkwater, a cotton spinner who respected his contributions.