Samuel Greg

Samuel Greg (26 March 1758 – 4 June 1834) was a British entrepreneur and a pioneer of the factory system at Quarry Bank Mill.

Greg was born in Belfast, then part of Ireland, the second son of a successful merchant. At the age of eight, he went to live with his maternal uncle, Robert Hyde, at Ardwick Hall, Manchester, in the heart of England. His uncles, Robert and Nathaniel, were linen merchants and, after completing his education at Harrow School, Samuel joined their business in 1778.

Robert Hyde's death in 1782; his brother's alcoholism rendered him incapable of running the business; Greg took over the enterprise. Seeing opportunities for manufacturing opened up by the Industrial Revolution, Greg founded Quarry Bank Mill, a cotton spinning mill in Styal on the bank of the River Bollin in Cheshire. Greg was quick to adopt innovations in the rapidly developing technologies of manufacturing and a partnership with Peter Ewart enabled him to exploit developments in water wheel and steam power.

Already a wealthy man, in 1789, he married Hannah Lightbody, a prominent Unitarian, and set up a family home at 35 King Street, Manchester. She born him six daughters and seven sons, among them Robert Hyde Greg, William Rathbone Greg and the younger Samuel Greg. In 1796, he built Quarry Bank House in Styal while retaining his town house. Greg was active in Manchester's cultural life as a member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and he too was a Unitarian.

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