See Also: William IV(encyclopedia)
Tell, William(encyclopedia)
Little, William(medicine)
William(dictionary)
Tell, William(dictionary)
Pym, Sir William(medicine)
Lee, William(encyclopedia)
William I(encyclopedia)
William I(dictionary)
William III(encyclopedia)

Lee, William (sh)




born 1550?, Calverton, Nottinghamshire, Eng.
died 1610?, Paris, France

British inventor of the first knitting machine.

Lee's model (1589) was the only one employed for centuries, and its principle of operation remains in use. Elizabeth I twice denied him a patent because of her concern for the kingdom's hand knitters. With support from Henry IV of France, Lee later manufactured hosiery in Rouen.