Regency Science and Invention: Improvements to the Manufacturing of Rope

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Joseph Huddart (1741-1816) was an inventor, hydrographer, and engineer hailing from Cumberland who made his fortune improving the design and manufacture of rope.  He also surveyed harbours and coasts.

Joseph had shown early promise as an engineer and inventor, eventually inheriting his father’s share of fish processing business, and then captaining a brig off the Irish coast that sold smoke fish for resale to the West Indies.  Year later, he built an improved ship and devoted himself to learning surveying and navigation, earning himself the patronage of Sir Richard Hotham who supported his voyages to the East Indies.  His guide to navigation to China and New Holland was published in 1801.

During the time he was engaged in the East India service he had frequently observed great imperfec tions in the manufacture of cordage especially in cables and the larger ropes by which many lives and much valuable property were unnecessarily exposed to danger his attention had therefore been early given to the discovery of some principle by which deficiencies so apparent might be remedied and his inventive genius aided by his sound mechanical and mathematical attainments was not long in producing the most valuable improvement in cordage Huddart, J. (1821). Memoir of the Late Captain Joseph Huddart, F.R.S. &c. (n.p.): W. Philips George Yard.

Ropes had long been made by hand, making them less durable and often weak at points, with outer yarns snapping. Huddart identified the need to ensure all fibers had the same tension while being assembled into rope, which his machine essentially did.  He offered the invention to the Royal Navy, but they were not interested, so Huddart found investors to support the construction of his machine in Limehouse in east London (Joseph Huddart – Linda Hall Library).

Huddart used steam power to automate the production, setting up a company to manufacture, and quickly becoming quite wealthy.

Captain Huddart would file suit against a Mr Grimshaw in 1804 for violating his patent on rope making, citing his specific technique of a spring applied to the bobbins on reels to create proper tension and make the rope more durable and strong for which he prevailed (Oracle and the Daily Advertiser – Friday 27 January 1804).

Huddart continued to make improvements to the manufacture of large cables and cordage including this patent from 1806:

The Repertory of Arts, Manufactures, and Agriculture: Consisting of Original Communications, Specifications of Patent Inventions, Practical and Interesting Papers, Selected from the Philosophical Transactions and Scientific Journals of All Nations. (1806). United Kingdom: Nichols.

JOSEPH HUDDART Esq FRS see p 190 This venerable gentleman whose dis tinguished services as a Geographer and unwearied attention to the different de partments of science which he embraced fully entitled him to the gratitude of his Country was born at Allenby a village in Cumberland 11th Jan 1740 1 OS at which place his father followed the pro fession of a shoemaker He was an only child and at a proper age was placed

under the tuition of the Rev Mr Wilson then clergyman of the parish of Allenby who was an excellent classical scholar but did not possess any knowledge of ma thematicks to which study the mind of his pupil seemed most to bend His fa ther intended him for the Church but a strong predilection for a sea life a life of dauger and of honour caused a rooted aversion to theological pursuits and he shortly after leaving school had his wishes gratified by the following circumstance About the year 1756 7 great shoals of herrings came into the Firth of Forth and Allenby being a fishing town the elder Mr Huddart in conjunction with some respectable neighbours built conveniences for the purpose of curing them Young Huddart of course was much employed in the fishery in small vessels thereby laying the foundation by practical know ledge of the conspicuous talents which a few years soon developed His father dying in 1762 he became concerned in the profits of the fishery when he took the command of a small brig employed in carrying cargoes of their commodity to different ports principally to Ireland for the West India markets His time not being fully taken up with these trips his active mind would not permit him to be idle and having a strong mechanical turn he devoted his leisure opportunities to the study of ship building and astro nomy in the latter pursuit he derived great advantage from the assistance of the son of the Rev Mr Wilson who had at tended the University of Glasgow and was a very ingenious young man Mr Hud dart however was not long destined to remain employed in the mere conveyance of fish for in 1763 4 the shoals wholly left the Firth and fell into Chester Si milar conveniences by the same com pany were elected at Park gate but the quantity fell so far short of his expecta tions that he took the command of a brig belonging to a relation intending as soon as a vessel which then occupied the slips was completed immediately to build oue himself It may appear surprising that with no farther instruction than his own genius elicited this task he accomplished in the course of the year 1768 aud mould ed every timber about her with his own hands In this vessel he continued till 1773 and his navigation having been principally confined to St George's Chau nel every leisure moment was devoted to the survey of the different ports and road steds and having claimed the attention of nautical men by the accuracy of the delineation of some few charts which were published he was strongly solicited by Sit Richard Hotham to enter into the India Company's service He accordingly in the season 1773 4 proceeded to India as fourth
fourth mate of the York in which voyage he made several useful surveys on the West Coast of Sumatra He returned to England in October 1775 and not fully determined to continue the service he re sumed the command of his own vessel in which he was accustomed to make an an nual voyage to America and the remain der of the year was employed in the coal trade Being in London about this time Mr Sayer the chart seller understanding that he had made surveys of the Sumatra Coast while in the York wished to give publicity and in consequence of there being no accurate chart of St George's Channel requested he would complete his survey of the same which accomplished after indefatigable la bour in the course of the year 1777 and its accuracy has been acknowledged by the most distinguished naval characters In the following year he was very earnestly requested by his former patron Sir Richard Hotham again to proceed to India in a vessel built on the bottom of the Royal Captain wrecked off Pelowar in Dec 1773 He sailed from the Downs April 27th 1778 in the Royal Admiral as chief mate but the captain dying at Portsmouth he was appointed to the com mand and made four voyages in her in a period of ten years during which time he was but twenty months in England His time not particularly devoted to the duties of the ship while in India was em ployed in the usual manner and he com a survey of the whole peninsula from Bombay to Coringo His astrono mical knowledge from the eclipse of Ju piter's satellites enabled him to ascertain the longitude of Bombay with more accu racy than any former Geographer He quitted the India Company's service in 1788 and made surveys of the Western Islands of Scotland and was appointed in 1790 by the Trinity House in a sur vey of Hasbro Gatt for the purpose of placing the lights through that intricate navigation In the year 1791 he was appointed an Elder Brother of that cor poration and also FRS and few have had higher pretensions to these honoura ble distinctions for to him as may be collected from the preceding account the science of Navigation owes many valuable discoveries and improvements the result of much personal fatigue and expensive experiment the world in general is like wise much indebted to him for many of the best Maps and Charts extant and his knowledge of Mathematicks and Astro nomy ranked him in the class if not upon a level with the first professors of those sciences Of his skill in Mechanism he has left a monument in the machinery for the manufacture of cordage unrivaled in this or any other Country if we except the steam engine the work of his friend and contemporary Mr Watt of Birming ham His improvement originated as fol lows In his first voyage to India the York in strong gales of wind on the coast of Su matra having parted her cables and lost all her anchors but one it forcibly struck his mind that some improvement might be made in the manufacture of cordage to prevent a repetition of such accidents and after experiencing great trouble he invented a mode for the equal distribution of the strains upon the yarns he took out a patent for the same and erected machinery at Maryport where his endea vours were crowned with complete success in the attainment of his object The pa tent however lay dormant for some time the rope makers being averse to depart from their old manufacture but on be ing joined by some respectable friends concerned in shipping the superiority of Capt Huddart's patent being fully proved by repeated trials he commenced once more rope maker though with great aver sion to entering into business Capt Huddart retired to Highbury terrace in plentiful if not opulent circumstances honourably acquired secure in the esteem of those friends who were dear to him and the high respect of all who had the plea sure of his acquaintance and closed a life of unwearied utility after a lingering illness of many months in Christian faith and hope in the 75th year of his age On the 27th of August his mortal remains were deposited in a vault under St Mar tin's Church in the Strand In his figure Capt Huddart was tall and erect his fea tures were regular and his countenance strongly indicative of those powers of mind for patient investigation and rational con clusion which he so eminently possessed blended with an expression of placid be nevolence equally characteristic of that amiable simplicity which so strongly en deared him to those who were incapable of appreciating his more scientific quali fications Capt Huddart married in 1762 and had five sons one of whom only sur vives now residing in Highbury place he was formerly a merchant at Leghorn and some time Pro consul there William died in the command of the York at Macao and Johnson in Italy whither he went for the recovery of his health the other two died in their infancy WILLIAM ALEXANDER Esq July 23 Died of a brain fever at the house of his uncle at Rocky Hill near Maidstone Kent William Alexander esq FSA and LS He was born at Maid stone April 10 1767 where his father Mr Harry Alexander followed the busi ness of a coach maker A few of his ear lier years were passed at the Grammar sche

For a deeper look at the history of rope: Rope | Invention & Technology Magazine

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