Louis Crommelin

Samuel-Louis Louis Crommelin (1652–1727) was a French Huguenot exile, who became director of an Irish linen business.

The family was Protestant, and the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 hit hard even though Louis was a Catholic convert of 1683.

[1] Under William III and Mary II, Thomas Southwell had access to funds to develop Irish industry.

William III's policy was to discourage the Irish woollen trade, but to build up linen manufacture there.

[2] He arrived at Lisburn in the autumn of 1698, and made recommendations for improving the linen industry in a memorial of 16 April 1699; which were implemented quickly.

Crommelin was made "overseer of the royal linen manufacture of Ireland", and lent money for the scheme.

His maker of the reeds, which control the warp threads, was Henry Mark du Pré (d. 1750), of Cambrai.