CARTWRIGHT, EDMUND ), English inven tor, younger brother of Maj. John Cartwright, was born at Marn ham, Nottinghamshire, on April and educated at Wakefield grammar school and at Oxford university. In 1779 he became rector of Goadby Marwood, Leicestershire, and in 1786 a prebend in the cathedral of Lincoln. He would probably have passed an obscure life as a country clergyman had not his atten tion been accidentally turned in 1784 to the possibility of apply ing machinery to weaving. He invented a power-loom, for which he took out a patent in 1785; it was a rude contrivance, though it was improved by subsequent patents in 1786 and 1787, and gradu ally developed into the modern power-loom. Removing to Don caster in 1785, he started a weaving and spinning factory, but in 1793 he had to surrender it to his creditors. A mill at Manches ter, in which a number of his machines were installed, was wil fully destroyed by fire in 1791. In 1789 he patented a wool-comb ing machine, for which he took out further patents in 1790 and 1792; it effected large economies in the cost of manufacture, but its financial results were not more satisfactory to its inventor than those of the power-loom, even though in 1801 parliament ex tended the patent for 14 years. In 1807 a memorial was pre sented to the Government urging the benefits that had been con ferred on the country by the power-loom, and the House of Com mons voted him f 10,00o in 1809. He then purchased a small farm at Hollander, near Sevenoaks, Kent, where he spent many years of his life. He died at Hastings, on Oct. 3o, 1823. Other inven tions of Cartwright's included a corderlier or machine for making rope (1792), and an engine working with alcohol (1797), together with various agricultural implements.