John Kay

Inventor, born near Bury, Greater Manchester, NW England, UK. He took charge of his father's woollen mill, made many improvements to the machinery, and obtained a patent for a device for twisting and cording mohair and worsted (1730). In 1733 he patented his flying shuttle, one of the most important inventions in the history of textile machinery. The new shuttle was eagerly adopted by weavers, but they were reluctant to pay the royalties due to him, and the cost of court actions against defaulters nearly ruined him. After his house was ransacked by a mob of textile workers, who feared that his machines would destroy their livelihood, he left England for France (1753), where he is believed to have died a pauper.

A number of people have been called John Kay:

John Kay (flying shuttle) (1704–1780), English inventor of textile machinery, notably the flying shuttle John Kay (spinning frame) (17??–17??), English developer of textile machinery, notably the spinning frame (not the same as John Kay immediately above) John Kay (caricaturist) (1742–1826), Scottish caricaturist John Kay (Medal of Honor), American Indian Wars soldier and Medal of Honor recipient Sir John Kay (judge) (1943–2004), British High Court judge John Kay (musician) (1944– ), musician and lead singer of Canadian rock band Steppenwolf John Kay (poet) (14th century), English poet laureate John Kay (economist) (1948– ), Scottish economist, Financial Times columnist and author John Kay (journalist) (1944– ), British Journalist on Rupert Murdoch's The Sun

Also:

Johnny Kay, lead guitarist for Bill Haley and His Comets from 1961 to 1967

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same human name.