Samuel Slater came here from England in 1789 after finishing a seven-year apprenticeship at an English cotton mill, where he gained great knowledge of the water-powered spinning process developed over the previous two decades. With the help of many Pawtucket artisans, Slater, William Almy, and Obadiah Brown opened this water-powered cotton spinning mill four years later. The success of this mill triggered America's Industrial Revolution. Slater managed the operation of the mill, and his management strategies became the model for future mills to follow. In this model, mills were small and often managed by their owners, and entire families, including children, were hired to operate the machines. These families depended on the owners to provide food and housing as well as wages. The first mechanically produced yarn was spooled onto spindles like this one. Slater eventually became a millionaire from his textile mills.

Photo: Devry Becker Jones

Pawtucket, Rhode Island · USA