Cartwright, EDMUND, the inventor of the power-loom, was born in 1743 at Marnham, Nottinghamshire. Educated at Oxford, he obtained the rectory of Goadby-Marwood, Leicestershire (1779), where on his glebe-land he made improvements in agriculture. A visit to the cotton-spinning mills of Arkwright in Derbyshire directed his attention to new methods of weaving. The result in 1785 was the power-loom, an ingenious though very rude machine; upon which, however, he subsequently effected improvements. At Doncaster he set up a factory, in which his power-loom was used, but he met with such determined opposition, and the expense was so great, that he had to give up business. A mill set up at Manchester with four hundred of his power-looms was burned down.
It was not till the beginning of the 19th century that the power-loom came into practical use. In 1790 Cartwright took out a patent for combing wool, and secured patents for various other improvements in connection with manufactures. He even joined Robert Fulton in his experiments for applying steam to navigation. All these efforts brought him no direct gain, but in 1809, in consideration of the benefits derived from his invention of the power-loom, government made him a grant of £10,000. Cartwright was the author of several poetical pieces. He died at Hastings, 30th October 1823. See his Life (1843).