Samuel Greg

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Samuel Greg (March 26, 1758 - June 4, 1834) was a British entrepreneur and pioneer of the factory system at Quarry Bank Mill.

Born in Belfast, Ireland, the son of a successful merchant, at the age of eight, he went to live with his uncle, Robert Hyde at Ardwick Hall, Manchester. His two uncles, Robert and Nathaniel were linen merchants and, after completing his education at Harrow School, Samuel joined the business in 1778. He was a Utilitarian.

By 1782, when Robert Hyde died, Nathaniel's alcoholism had rendered him incapable to take a full part in the business and Greg took over the enterprise. Seeing the opportunities for manufacturing opened up by the Industrial Revolution, he founded the Quarry Bank cotton spinning mill at the village of Styal on the River Bollin in Cheshire. Greg was quick to adopt any innovation in the rapidly developing technologies of manufacturing and a partnership with Peter Ewart enabled him to exploit novel developments in water and steam power.

Already a wealthy man, in 1789, he married Hannah Lightbody, a prominent Unitarian, and set up a family home at 35 King Street, Manchester. The couple gave birth to seven daughters and six sons, among them Robert Hyde Greg, William Rathbone Greg and the younger Samuel Greg. In 1796, the family added Quarry Bank House in Styal while retaining their town house. Greg was active in Manchester's cultural life as a member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.

Greg built up a workers' colony of modest but salubrious housing on the Styal estate, not out of any philanthropy but as an essential element in his vision of the efficient factory system. However, his wife Hannah's religious and social views influenced his approach to the workers' welfare.

In 1832, Greg was attacked by a stag in the grounds of Quarry Bank House. The injury led to his retirement, Quarry Bank having become the largest spinning and weaving business in the UK. Greg never recovered from the attack and died two years later.

[edit] Bibliography

• Rose, M.B. (1986) The Gregs of Quarry Bank Mill: The Rise and Decline of the Family Firm, 1750–1914

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