Mercer, John, 1791-1866

John Mercer was a calico printer and chemist. Born on Feb. 21, 1791 in the parish of Great Harwood, England, he was the son of Robert Mercer, a hand loom weaver and farmer. Mercer's father died in 1800, so at the age of nine John became a bobbin winder and later, a hand loom weaver. In 1807 he became interested in dyeing and began learning the techniques. He entered into a partnership that lasted a little more than a year. In 1809, Mercer began an apprenticeship in a print works. By 1810, he had returned to hand loom weaving, inventing many ingenious designs. During this time, he studied mathematics and chemistry. In 1813, he resumed work as a dyer. From 1825 to 1848, Mercer was a partner in the firm, Fort Bros. During his career, Mercer developed a process known as Mercerizing, through which cotton fabrics become thicker and shorter. Mercer died in 1866, having been ill for two years.

From the description of Letter, 24 Sept. 1844. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 122555844