William Lee (inventor) facts for kids

William Lee (1563–1614) was an English inventor. He is famous for creating the stocking frame knitting machine. This amazing invention was a huge step forward in making clothes. It was the first major machine used in the textile industry. This process of using machines to make things eventually helped start the Industrial Revolution about 200 years later.

The Life of William Lee

Early Life and Education

Some people believe Lee was born in Sussex, England. Others think he came from villages in Nottinghamshire, like Calverton or Woodborough. We don't have exact proof for either place. However, there is some evidence that he was from Nottinghamshire.

Lee went to Christ's College, Cambridge in 1579. He later graduated from St. John's College in 1582.

Inventing the Stocking Frame

William Lee wanted to find a faster way to knit stockings. He developed his first machine around 1589. This machine could knit coarse wool stockings. It was a revolutionary idea for its time.

Challenges and Royal Decisions

Lee tried to get a special patent from Queen Elizabeth I. A patent would protect his invention. However, the Queen was worried about the many people who knitted by hand. She feared that Lee's machine would take away their jobs.

The Queen reportedly told Lee: "You aim high, Master Lee. Think about what this invention could do to my poor subjects. It would surely ruin them by taking away their work, making them beggars." Because of these concerns, she did not grant him a patent.

Lee then improved his machine. He made it knit finer silk stockings. It had more needles per inch, going from 8 to 20. Still, the Queen refused his patent again. Modern historians say these stories about the Queen's exact words and reasons appeared much later. They might not be completely accurate.

Seeking Support in France

Lee faced difficulties in England. He had a business agreement with a man named George Brooke in 1600. However, Brooke later faced serious trouble and could no longer help Lee.

Because of these challenges, Lee decided to move to France. He went with his brother James and nine skilled workers. They also took nine of his knitting machines. In France, he found support from Henry IV of France, the King. King Henry IV understood the value of Lee's invention and granted him a patent.

Lee started making stockings in Rouen, France. His business did well there. His last known record is from 1614. This was when he signed a contract to provide more knitting machines.

The Legacy of Lee's Invention

After William Lee passed away, his workers and his brother James returned to England. They brought many of the knitting frames with them. They settled near Nottingham, in a place called Thoroton.

Lee's apprentice, John Aston, continued to work on the machine. He made several improvements to the stocking frame. This led to the growth of two main knitting centers in England. One was in London, and the other was in Nottingham. Later, Leicester also became a major center for the knitting industry.

Lee's invention, the stocking frame, remained very important for a long time. It was the main machine for making knitted goods for centuries. His contribution is honored in the coat of arms of The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters.

The 400th anniversary of his invention was celebrated in 1989. A book called Four Centuries of Machine Knitting was published. It looked at the history of knitting technology and the knitting economy.