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'''Ned Ludd''', or possibly '''Ned Ludham''', was the real or imagined inspiration of the '''Luddite''' movement in [[England]] in the early nineteenth century.
== Possible Background ==
The historical warrant for the existence of Ned Ludd is very thin. Allegedly this man, born Ned Ludham, was a stocking maker's apprentice in [[Leicester]] during the late eighteenth century. Apparently he smashed his master's stocking frames with a hammer in a fit of rage over a dispute with his master over working conditions.<ref name=suite101>Apostolakou L, "Ned Ludd: Popular protest and machine breaking in England," ''Suite 101'', February 27, 2009. <http://historicalbiographies.suite101.com/article.cfm/ned_ludd></ref> This incident is believed to have taken place in 1779.
== The Luddite Movement ==
In 1811, the economy of England was in depression. The [[United States|American]] market was closed to the British on account of the continued dispute over the seizure of American cargo ships bound for [[France|French]] ports during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. (This dispute would escalate to the [[War of 1812]].) In addition, the harvests of [[wheat]] and other foodstuffs had been less than plentiful, with the result that food prices were higher than usual and indeed higher than many industrial workers could afford.
Workers in the [[textile]] industries blamed the invention of mechanized [[loom]]s for the depression. Then in Feburary of 1811, negotiations in and around [[Nottingham]] over wages and frame rents broke down. Workers smashed 200 frames between February and November 1811, and claimed to be under the orders of a "General" Ned Ludd.
The movement spread from Nottingham to [[Lancashire]], [[Cheshire]], [[Liverpool]], and [[Manchester]]. In [[Stockport]], two men dressed as women and claiming to be the wives of Ned Ludd incited a riot that caused the destruction of many machines and damage to the house of a steam loom owner by thrown stones. Hundreds of rioters were arrested, and many were sentenced either to execution or to transport to the [[Botany Bay]] penal colony (specifically, [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]].)<ref name=suite101/>
The movement then spread to [[Yorkshire]], center of the [[wool]] trade. Here the protests turned violent, and several machine owners received death threats. The local [[militia]] and the Royal Army mobilized against the Luddites. After about 1000 machines had been damaged (1813), the local militias and a 12,000-strong regular army force defeated the Luddites permanently.<ref name=suite101/>
== Popular culture ==
Ned Ludd is remembered today in multiple popular ballads. In addition, "Luddite" is a popular word that stands for any movement in opposition to the introduction of new technology for any reason, but especially on account of ostensible concern for the plight of workers who find themselves "displaced" by such technology.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Historical Figures]]
== Possible Background ==
The historical warrant for the existence of Ned Ludd is very thin. Allegedly this man, born Ned Ludham, was a stocking maker's apprentice in [[Leicester]] during the late eighteenth century. Apparently he smashed his master's stocking frames with a hammer in a fit of rage over a dispute with his master over working conditions.<ref name=suite101>Apostolakou L, "Ned Ludd: Popular protest and machine breaking in England," ''Suite 101'', February 27, 2009. <http://historicalbiographies.suite101.com/article.cfm/ned_ludd></ref> This incident is believed to have taken place in 1779.
== The Luddite Movement ==
In 1811, the economy of England was in depression. The [[United States|American]] market was closed to the British on account of the continued dispute over the seizure of American cargo ships bound for [[France|French]] ports during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. (This dispute would escalate to the [[War of 1812]].) In addition, the harvests of [[wheat]] and other foodstuffs had been less than plentiful, with the result that food prices were higher than usual and indeed higher than many industrial workers could afford.
Workers in the [[textile]] industries blamed the invention of mechanized [[loom]]s for the depression. Then in Feburary of 1811, negotiations in and around [[Nottingham]] over wages and frame rents broke down. Workers smashed 200 frames between February and November 1811, and claimed to be under the orders of a "General" Ned Ludd.
The movement spread from Nottingham to [[Lancashire]], [[Cheshire]], [[Liverpool]], and [[Manchester]]. In [[Stockport]], two men dressed as women and claiming to be the wives of Ned Ludd incited a riot that caused the destruction of many machines and damage to the house of a steam loom owner by thrown stones. Hundreds of rioters were arrested, and many were sentenced either to execution or to transport to the [[Botany Bay]] penal colony (specifically, [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]].)<ref name=suite101/>
The movement then spread to [[Yorkshire]], center of the [[wool]] trade. Here the protests turned violent, and several machine owners received death threats. The local [[militia]] and the Royal Army mobilized against the Luddites. After about 1000 machines had been damaged (1813), the local militias and a 12,000-strong regular army force defeated the Luddites permanently.<ref name=suite101/>
== Popular culture ==
Ned Ludd is remembered today in multiple popular ballads. In addition, "Luddite" is a popular word that stands for any movement in opposition to the introduction of new technology for any reason, but especially on account of ostensible concern for the plight of workers who find themselves "displaced" by such technology.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Historical Figures]]