John Collier (France)
Born 1782 in Newport, died 1835 in Paris
Cotton spinner and machine maker.
In 1791 John's brother, James Collier, secretly left for France with the aim of helping to establish Toulouse as the 'new Manchester'. John joined him in 1793. Nothing came of that scheme, but in 1798 they joined with the Swiss banker Abraham de Rougement to establish a cotton, flax and woollen spinning mill at Cye-le-Foret. By the 'contraband technique', they were able to keep up with British innovation in the field. In 1805 the brothers became established as engineers and spinners in Paris, producing a range of textile machinery. In 1814 James moved to London. John was naturalised in 1819. The business failed in 1844, and the rights were bought by Benoît-Aimé Seillières, owner of Schirmeck spinning mill (established in 1817 by his grandfather John Heywood (1771-1855), who came from Manchester).[1]
1841 John Collier listed as engineers & mecaniciens, iron & brass founders, and steam engine makers at Rue Richer, Paris[2]
Note: James Collier was in Toulouse between 1792 and 1796, then at Sainte-Foy and Coye, and later in Paris.[3]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ [1] 'Dictionnaire des étrangers qui ont fait la France' edited by Pascal Ory, publ. Robert Laffont, 2013
- ↑ [2] Almanach et annuaire des batiments, des travaux publics et de l'industrie, P. F. Sageret, 1841
- ↑ [3] 'L'innovation technique dans l'industrie textile pendant la Révolution' by Serge Chassagne. Histoire, économie & société, 1993 12-1 pp. 51-61