Thomas Lombe

Sir Thomas Lombe (5 September 1685 – 8 January 1739) was an English merchant and developer of machinery for silk throwing.

422) in 1718 for "three sorts of engines never before made or used in Great Britaine, one to winde the finest raw silk, another to spin, and the other to twist the finest Italian raw silk into organzine in great perfection, which was never before done in this country."

The patent expired in 1732, when Lombe petitioned Parliament for an extension, a move opposed by cotton and worsted spinners.

The bill was thrown out but a subsequent Act awarded Lombe £14,000, one of the conditions being that he should deposit models of his machinery in a public institution.

He was knighted on 8 July of the same year, when he attended at court to present a congratulatory address from the city to George II on his accession.

Mary Turner married James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale on 24 April 1749.