HEATHCOAT, JOHN (1783-1861), English inventor, was born at Duffield near Derby on Aug. 7, 1783, and was appren ticed to a framesmith. In 1808 he constructed an extremely com plicated machine, capable of producing an exact imitation of real pillow-lace. A mill at Loughborough for the exploitation of the new process owned by Heathcoat and his partner Lacy was at tacked by the Luddites in 1816, and the 55 lace frames destroyed. Heathcoat now constructed new and greatly improved machines in an unoccupied factory at Tiverton, Devon, propelling them by water-power and afterwards by steam. He invented many other useful processes in connection with silk manufacture. He died on Jan. 18, 1861, at Bolham House, near Tiverton.