The English cabinet maker Thomas Saint received a patent in 1790 for a machine to stitch leather and canvas, which is generally regarded as the earliest design for a sewing machine. It is uncertain whether he ever built a working example. Practical machines followed in the nineteenth century, including the French tailor Barthelemy Thimonnier's chain-stitch machine around 1830 and Elias Howe's lockstitch machine in the 1840s. Isaac Singer then improved the design and, with clever marketing and instalment payments, made the sewing machine a common household and factory tool, transforming clothing production.
Before and after
- from 15 September 1789 to 8 October 1789Siege of Belgrade
- 17 September 1789Discovery of Mimas
- 22 September 1789Battle of Rymnik
- 1790Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
- 1790Sewing machine
- from 1790 to 1792Third Anglo-Mysore War
- 29 March 1790Birth of John Tyler
- 17 April 1790Death of Benjamin Franklin
- 12 July 1790Civil Constitution of the Clergy
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The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.