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endeavouring to acquire knowledge of new arts and to obtain insight
into new machines。 〃Even in early life；〃 said he； in the account of
his career addressed to his children； 〃I felt a strong desire to know
what others knew； and was always ready to communicate what little I
knew myself； and by admitting at once my want of education； I found
that I often made friends of those on whom I had no claims beyond
what an ardent desire for knowledge could give me。〃
His apprenticeship over； John Kennedy commenced business*
＇footnote。。。
One of the reasons which induced Kennedy thus early to begin the
business of mule…spinning has been related as follows。 While employed
as apprentice at Chowbent； he happened to sleep over the master's
apartment； and late one evening； on the latter returning from market；
his wife asked his success。 〃I've sold the eightys；〃 said he； 〃at a
guinea a pound。〃 〃What；〃 exclaimed the mistress； in a loud voice；
〃sold the eightys for ONLY a guinea a pound！ I never heard of such a
thing。〃 The apprentice could not help overhearing the remark； and it
set him a…thinking。 He knew the price of cotton and the price of
labour； and concluded there must be a very large margin of profit。 So
soon as he was out of his time； therefore； he determined that he
should become a cotton spinner。
。。。＇
in a small way in Manchester in 1791； in conjunction with two other
workmen； Sandford and MacConnel。 Their business was machine…making
and mule…spinning； Kennedy taking the direction of the machine
department。 The firm at first put up their mules for spinning in any
convenient garrets they could hire at a low rental。 After some time；
they took part of a small factory in Canal Street； and carried on
their business on a larger scale。 Kennedy and MacConnel afterwards
occupied a little factory in the same street；since removed to give
place to Fairbairn's large machine works。 The progress of the firm
was steady and even rapid； and they went on building mills and
extending their businessMr。 Kennedy； as he advanced in life；
gathering honour； wealth； and troops of friends。 Notwithstanding the
defects of his early education； he was one of the few men of his
class who became distinguished for his literary labours in connexion
principally with the cotton trade。 Towards the close of his life； he
prepared several papers of great interest for the Literary and
Philosophical Society of Manchester； which are to be found printed in
their Proceedings； one of these； on the Invention of the Mule by
Samuel Crompton； was for a long time the only record which the public
possessed of the merits and claims of that distinguished inventor。
His knowledge of the history of the cotton manufacture in its various
stages； and of mechanical inventions generally； was most extensive
and accurate。 Among his friends he numbered James Watt； who placed
his son in his establishment for the purpose of acquiring knowledge
and experience of his profession。 At a much later period he numbered
George Stephenson among his friends； having been one of the first
directors of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway； and one of the
three judges （selected because of his sound judgment and proved
impartiality； as well as his knowledge of mechanical engineering） to
adjudicate on the celebrated competition of Locomotives at Rainhill。
By these successive steps did this poor Scotch boy become one of the
leading men of Manchester； closing his long and useful life in 1855
at an advanced age； his mental faculties remaining clear and
unclouded to the last。 His departure from life was happy and
tranquilso easy that it was for a time doubtful whether he was dead
or asleep。
To return to Mr。 Fairbairn's career； and his progress as a millwright
and engineer in Manchester。 When he and his partner undertook the
extensive alterations in Mr。 Murray's factory； both were in a great
measure unacquainted with the working of cotton…mills； having until
then been occupied principally with corn…mills； and printing and
bleaching works； so that an entirely new field was now opened to
their united exertions。 Sedulously improving their opportunities； the
young partners not only thoroughly mastered the practical details of
cotton…mill work； but they were very shortly enabled to introduce a
series of improvements of the greatest importance in this branch of
our national manufactures。 Bringing their vigorous practical minds to
bear on the subject； they at once saw that the gearing of even the
best mills was of a very clumsy and imperfect character。 They found
the machinery driven by large square cast…iron shafts； on which huge
wooden drums； some of them as much as four feet in diameter； revolved
at the rate of about forty revolutions a minute； and the couplings
were so badly fitted that they might be heard creaking and groaning a
long way off。 The speeds of the driving…shafts were mostly got up by
a series of straps and counter drums； which not only crowded the
rooms； but seriously obstructed the light where most required for
conducting the delicate operations of the different machines。 Another
serious defect lay in the construction of the shafts； and in the mode
of fixing the couplings； which were constantly giving way； so that a
week seldom passed without one or more breaks…down。 The repairs were
usually made on Sundays； which were the millwrights' hardest working
days； to their own serious moral detriment； but when trade was good；
every consideration was made to give way to the uninterrupted running
of the mills during the rest of the week。
It occurred to Mr。 Fairbairn that the defective arrangements thus
briefly described； might be remedied by the introduction of lighter
shafts driven at double or treble the velocity； smaller drums to
drive the machinery； and the use of wrought…iron wherever
practicable； because of its greater lightness and strength compared
with wood。 He also provided for the simplification of the hangers and
fixings by which the shafting was supported； and introduced the
〃half…lap coupling〃 so well known to millwrights and engineers。 His
partner entered fully into his views； and the opportunity shortly
presented itself of carrying them into effect in the large new mill
erected in 1818； for the firm of MacConnel and Kennedy。 The machinery
of that concern proved a great improvement on all that had preceded
it； and； to Messrs。 Fairbairn and Lillie's new system of gearing Mr。
Kennedy added an original invention of his own in a system of double
speeds； with the object of giving an increased quantity of twist in
the finer descriptions of mule yarn。
The satisfactory execution of this important work at once placed the
firm of Fairbairn and Lillie in the very front rank of engineering
millwrights。 Mr。 Kennedy's good word was of itself a passport to fame
and business； and as he was more than satisfied with the manner in
which his mill machinery had been planned