John Kennedy
John Kennedy, a Scot, became a textile machinery manufacturer with major interest in spinning and weaving cotton.
1769 Born in Knocknalling, Kirkcudbrightshire.
1784 he left Knocknalling for Chowbent near Leigh in Lancashire to become an apprentice to William Cannan (1742-1825), the son of a neighbour who had established himself there as a machine maker.
1791 After his apprenticeship ended, he moved to Manchester and formed a long lasting partnership with James McConnel
1791 John Kennedy began business in a small way in Manchester, as soon as he had completed his apprenticeship, in conjunction with two other workmen, Sandford and MacConnel. Their business was mule-spinning which was very profitable at that time. They used any low-cost garret they could hire for mule-spinning.
1804 Married Mary Stuart in Manchester[1]
1812 McConnel and Kennedy ran the largest cotton mill in Manchester, rivalling brothers Adam and George Murray, founders of the Murray Mills in Ancoats. Interestingly, the founders of the two largest mill complexes in Manchester at the peak of the industrial revolution, had all originated from the Kells parish in Galloway and had all trained under William Cannon.
1829 John Kennedy was a judge at the Rainhill Trials[2]
1841 John Kennedy 72, independent means, lived in Ardwick with Mary Kennedy 60, John L Kennedy 25, barrister, Eliza Kennedy 25, John M Kennedy 2 Months[3]
1855 Died [4]
Also see Redhill Street Mill, Old Mill and Sedgewick Mill in Manchester
See Also
Sources of Information
- See John Kennedy by Samuel Smiles
- Biography in DNB
- [1] Find a grave site