Richard Arkwright and the Bessemer process

Study note

Richard Arkwright was remembered for the efficient and profitable way he ran his textile factories, improving the carding and spinning of fibres and later using steam engines to power machinery. The development of the Bessemer process allowed steel to be mass produced, which helped the shipbuilding industry and the railways grow.

Memory tip: Arkwright = efficient factories; the Bessemer process = mass-produced steel for ships and railways.