Samuel Greg (March 26, 1758 – June 4, 1834) was the owner of the controversial mill, Quarry Bank Mill. He was born in Belfast, Ireland to a wealthy merchant. When he was 8 in 1766, he was sent to live with his uncle in Manchester. His two uncles, Robert and Nathaniel, were linen merchants and when he had finished his education at Harrow School, he went to join his Uncles in the trade.
In 1782 Robert Hyde died, Nathaniel's alcohol addiction had made him incapable of taking a full part in the business so Samuel took over the Factory. Seeing the opportunities for manufacturing, opened up by the Industrial Revolution, he founded the Quarry Bank Cotton Spinning Mill at the village of Styal on the River Bollin. Greg was quick to use any new invention in the quickly developing technologies of manufacturing. A partnership with Peter Ewart enabled him to exploit novel developments in water and steam power. In 1789 he was already a wealthy man, he married Hannah Lightbody, and bought a family home at 35 King Street, Manchester. She gave him 7 daughters and 6 sons. In 1796, the family added Quarry Bank House in Styal while retaining their town house. Greg built a workers' colony of simple yet satisfactory housing on the Styal estate, not out of any love or care but as an essential part in his vision of the efficient factory system. However, his wife Hannah's religious and social views influenced his approach to the workers' welfare. In 1832, Samuel Greg was attacked by a stag in the grounds of Quarry Bank House where he lived. The injury led to his retirement. By this time, Quarry Bank Mill had become the biggest spinning and weaving business in the UK. Samuel Greg died two years later after never recovering from the attack from the Stag.
In 1782 Robert Hyde died, Nathaniel's alcohol addiction had made him incapable of taking a full part in the business so Samuel took over the Factory. Seeing the opportunities for manufacturing, opened up by the Industrial Revolution, he founded the Quarry Bank Cotton Spinning Mill at the village of Styal on the River Bollin. Greg was quick to use any new invention in the quickly developing technologies of manufacturing. A partnership with Peter Ewart enabled him to exploit novel developments in water and steam power. In 1789 he was already a wealthy man, he married Hannah Lightbody, and bought a family home at 35 King Street, Manchester. She gave him 7 daughters and 6 sons. In 1796, the family added Quarry Bank House in Styal while retaining their town house. Greg built a workers' colony of simple yet satisfactory housing on the Styal estate, not out of any love or care but as an essential part in his vision of the efficient factory system. However, his wife Hannah's religious and social views influenced his approach to the workers' welfare. In 1832, Samuel Greg was attacked by a stag in the grounds of Quarry Bank House where he lived. The injury led to his retirement. By this time, Quarry Bank Mill had become the biggest spinning and weaving business in the UK. Samuel Greg died two years later after never recovering from the attack from the Stag.
