PMP2000 > Places > Charnwood History

FAMOUS PEOPLE

MATTHEW TOWNSEND:
MATTHEW TOWNSEND was born in CROPSTON on February 14th, 1817, the son a framework knitter. He became an apprentice in the trade at a very young age, probably no more than nine or ten. By the time he was 20, he was living and working in LEICESTER in the luxury end of the hosiery market, making such items as cravats, shawls and gloves. He was a sound businessman and before long was the owner of two hosiery factories, with a workforce of over 400 people.

He really came to prominence in the 1840s when he invented a new kind of machine needle. The existing "bearded" needle had been in use since it's invention in 1589 by WILLIAM LEE. It was perfectly serviceable but it made the whole knitting process rather slow. TOWNSEND went back to a design for a "latch" needle which had been patented in 1806 by Frenchman PIEnRRE JEANDEAU but never perfected. TOWNSEND greatly improved its design and, i 1849, successfully applied for a patent. Inspired by his success, he went on to further refine the Knitting machine itself, patenting his modifications in 1854 and 1856.

But it was now that his business sense seemed to desert him. Perhaps over confident after his inventions, he began some very reckless trading and was declared bankrupt in 1857. To pay off debts, all his possessions were put up for auction and TOWNSEND decided to emigrate to a new life in America in 1860.

Here, he settled in CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS and, in 1863, he went into partnership with CHARLES DRAPER, building a woollen mill and houses for factory workers. But after two years this company also failed. This time the reason was that TOWNSEND was sued for patent infringement: the American version of the "latch" needle was, it seems, patented a few months before TOWNSEND's in Britain. In 1869, he saw his company auctioned off for a second time.

After a few less than successful years in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, TOWNSEND returned to CANTON and went into business with GEORGE SUMNER in 1879. Here, he worked on more inventions but in march of that year he died before they could be patented. SUMNER became administrator of TOWNSEND's estate and took out the patents in his name.