By the age of 21, Slater had gained a detailed knowledge of the organisation and the practice of cotton spinning. He had also learned of the American interest in developing similar machines.
However, he knew it was then illegal to export the designs, and so memorised as much as he could and, attracted by the bounties being offered, emigrated to New York in 1789.
As he left Derbyshire and England behind, some Belper locals, by now aware of what he had done, bestowed on him the unfortunate moniker of ‘Slater the Traitor’, primarily because they considered his move a betrayal of the town where many earned their living at Strutt's mills.
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