John Lombe

He was a younger half-brother of Thomas Lombe who, after John's death, would go on to amass a fortune as a silk merchant in Norwich and London.

Leonardo da Vinci had sketched a similar model, but Zonca's was more complete; it is unknown if there was contact.

[2] William Hutton gave an account of Lombe's time in Italy, in his History of Derby.

[3] In 1718, Thomas Lombe was able to obtain a patent for silk throwing machinery, granted for fourteen years.

According to legend, the King of Sardinia, having heard of the success of the Lombe’s undertaking, instructed a female assassin to travel to England to kill the brothers.