Paul Moody (inventor)
| Paul Moody | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
May 23, 1779 Byfield, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 5, 1831 (aged 52) Lowell, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Master mechanic & inventor |
| Employer | Boston Manufacturing Company, Waltham, MA and later Propiretors of Locks and Canals, Lowell, MA |
| Known for | First power loom in U.S. |
Paul Moody (May 23, 1779 – July 5, 1831) was a U.S. textile machinery inventor born in Byfield, Massachusetts (Town of Newbury). He is often credited with developing and perfecting the first power loom in America, which launched the first successful integrated cotton mill at Waltham, Massachusetts in 1814, under the leadership of Francis Cabot Lowell and his associates.
Paul Moody was born May 23, 1779 at Byfield, Massachusetts, the son of Paul Moody and one of nine children.
Although Moody's academic education was limited, at age sixteen he learned the weaver's craft, and soon became an expert. He later went to work at a nail factory of Jacob Perkins, first in Byfield and later in Amesbury, Massachusetts when the company moved. In 1812 he worked for Kendrick and Worthen, makers of carding machinery.
On July 13, 1800 (one source says September 1798), he married Susan Morrill of Amesbury. The couple went on to have three sons.
Soon after his marriage, he partnered with Ezra Worthen, Thomas Boardman and Samuel Wigglesworth to form the Amesbury Wool and Cotton Manufacturing Company. It was incorporated on February 16, 1813.
In 1814 he arrived at Waltham, Massachusetts to supervise the setting up of machinery for a new cotton mill under Francis Cabot Lowell and The Boston Associates. Moody created the first power loom that harnessed the city's streams, canals, and rivers. The patent for the loom went to Lowell and his partner.
During his time in Waltham, Moody was awarded other patents. This included one in 1816 for what would eventually become the filling frame (the invited item completed in 1819). He improved upon the double speeder, a device for roping cotton and got the patent on April 3, 1819. On January 17, 1818, he improved upon the soapstone rollers for Horrocks' dressing machine thereby doubling its efficacy.
With the success of Waltham, The Boston Associates established an entirely new city in 1821-1825 along the banks of the Merrimack River in East Chelmsford. The city became Lowell, named after Francis Cabott Lowell. There, in 1824, Moody built Lowell Machine Works, to supply the mills with their machines.
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