Ned Ludd facts for kids
Ned Ludd is a famous name linked to a group called the Luddites. They used his name for their movement.
People say that in 1779, Ned Ludd got very angry. He supposedly broke two stocking frames, which were knitting machines. Later, when the "Luddites" started their movement around 1810, they used his name. He became a legendary leader for them. They sometimes called him Captain Ludd, King Lud, or General Ludd.
Who Was Ned Ludd?
Ned Ludd is a legendary figure, not a confirmed real person. He is thought to have been a weaver from Anstey, England. This town is near Leicester.
One story says that in 1779, Ned Ludd was either punished for being lazy or teased by other young people. In a moment of anger, he smashed two knitting machines. This story first appeared in a newspaper in 1811. However, there is no other proof that it actually happened.
Another story from a book in 1811 tells of a boy named "Ludlam." His father, a framework-knitter, told him to fix his needles. Instead, Ludlam used a hammer and smashed them. When machines were broken later, people would jokingly say, "Ned Ludd did it."
The Luddites' Leader
By 1812, groups of people who broke machines became known as Luddites. They used the name King Ludd or Captain Ludd for their mythical leader. Many letters and announcements from the Luddites were signed by "Ned Ludd." This made him seem like a real person leading their actions.
See also
- Captain Swing
- Rebecca Riots
