dustry into
the Staffordshire district.[4] The courage of John Lombe, who
introduced the thrown-silk industry into England, was equally notable.
He was a native of Norwich. Playfair, in his 'Family Antiquity' (vii.
312), says his name "may have been taken from the French Lolme, or de
Lolme," as there were many persons of French and Flemish origin settled
at Norwich towards the close of the sixteenth century; but there is no
further information as to his special origin.

John Lombe's father, Henry Lombe, was a worsted weaver, and was twice
married. By his first wife he had two sons, Thomas and Henry; and by
his second, he had also two sons, Benjamin and John. At his death in
1695, he left his two brothers his "supervisors," or trustees, and
directed them to educate his children in due time to some useful trade.
Thomas, the eldest son, went to London. He was apprenticed to a trade,
and succeeded in business, as we find him Sheriff of London and
Middlesex in 1727, when in his forty-second year. He was also knighted
in the same year, most probably on the accession of George II. to the
throne.

John, the youngest son of the family, and half-brother of Thomas, was
put an apprentice to a trade. In 1702, we find him at Derby, working
as a mechanic with one Mr. Crotchet. This unfortunate gentleman
started a small silk-mill at Derby, with the object of participating in
the profits derived from the manufacture.

"The wear of silks," says Hutton, in his 'History of Derby,' "was the
taste of the ladies, and the British merchant was obliged to apply to
the Italian with ready money for the article at an exorbitant price."
Crotchet did not succeed in his undertaking. "Three engines were found
necessary for the process: he had but one. An untoward trade is a
dreadful sink for money; and an imprudent tradesman is still more
dreadful. We often see instances where a fortune would last a man much
longer if he lived upon his capital, than if he sent it into trade.
Crotchet soon became insolvent."

John Lombe, who had been a mechanic in Crotchet's silk mill, lost his
situation accordingly. But he seems to have been possessed by an
intense desire to ascertain the Italian method of silk-throwing. He
could not learn it in England. There was no other method but going to
Italy, getting into a silk mill, and learning the secret of the Italian
art. He was a good mechanic and a clever draughtsman, besides being
intelligent and fea