Barthélemy Thimonnier

Barthélemy Thimonnier, (August 19 1793 in L'Arbresle, Rhône - July 5 1857 in Amplepuis), was a French inventor, who invented the first sewing machine that replicated sewing by hand.

Early life

In 1795, his family moved to Amplepuis. Thimonnier was the oldest of five children. He studied for awhile in Lyon, before going to work as a tailor in Panissières. In 1823, he settled in a suburb of Saint-Étienne and worked as a tailor there.

Invention of the sewing machine

In 1829, he invented the sewing machine and signed a contract with Auguste Ferrand, a mining engineer, who made the requisite drawings and submitted a patent application. The patent for his machine was issued on 17 July 1830 in the names of both men, supported by the French Government. The same year, he opened (with partners) the first machine-based clothing manufacturing company in the world. It was supposed to create army uniforms. However, the factory was burnt down, reportedly by workers fearful of losing work following the issuing of the patent.

Later life

Thimonnier then returned to Amplepuis and supported himself a tailor again, while searching for improvements to his machine. He obtained new patents in 1841, 1845, and 1847 for new models of sewing machine. However, despite having won prizes at World Fairs, and being praised by the press, use of the machine did not spread. Thimonnier's financial situation remained difficult, and he died in poverty at the age of 64.

References

*cite web | title=Barthelemy Thimonnier | work=Sewing Machines from the Past to the Present | url=http://perso.wanadoo.fr/buisson/english/thimonnier.htm | accessdate=April 11 | accessyear=2005

*cite web | title=Stitches - The History of Sewing Machines | work=The History of the Sewing Machine - Elias Howe and Isaac Singer
url=http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsewing_machine.htm | accessdate=April 11 | accessyear=2005