John Hulme

1869 'Mr. John Hulme.
In our obituary columns is recorded the death of John Hulme, whose mechanical skill and the part he took in connection with that important invention, the self acting mule, entitle him to notice. He was born In Shrewsbury In February, 1799. Served his apprenticeship as a smith, and came to Manchester in 1822. He was employed by Messrs. Cocker and Higgins, Salford, for about a year, and, having left them through a dispute between the masters and workmen, got a situation at Messrs. Sharp and Roberts's, Faulkner-street, Mancheater. The firm, noticing his ability and ingenuity, gave him some encouragement, and at the time the invention of the celebrated self-acting mule was contemplated he was taken into the confidence of Mr. Roberts, as his secret man in the working out of his (Mr. Roberts') plans for the contruction of that machine. The patent was bought by a firm in France, and Mr. Hulme, being the only one who understood the contruction, was sent out to fit up the machine. The feeling was very strong at that time against the introduction of English machinery and mechanics into France, and he found it expedient to take a passport as a "farmer" and to pass amongst the French workmen as an "American." Soon after his return to England, the patent was abandoned for one of much more simple construction. Messrs. Sharp and Roberts then commenced to make these "mules"on an extenxive scale, and Mr. Hulme became the foreman over the muleroom. He was subject to much persecutlon and annoyance and received threatening letters in Scotland and other places where he was sent to superintend the fitting up of the machines. He remained with this firm, as journeyman and foreman, for about 23 years, and then went to St. Petersburg to superintend the fitting up of several pairs of mules which had been sent there by his employers. He afterwards took a situation as spinning master in a cotton mill near St. Petersburg, where he remained about six years and then, during the time of the Russian war, returned to his family in England. He then engaged himself for two or three years to several machinists in the neighbourhood of Manchester as a fitter for country orders; after which, his health gradually failing, he retired. He survived both his late masters (Messrs Sharp and Roberts), and died at the age of 69 years. His remains will be interred at the Ardwick Cemetery, on the 27th Instant.'

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