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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Been informed of a new article just published in *History of Science* by Candice Goucher, the historian & archaeologist who excavated Reeder's Pen in Jamaica. I remember some people asking what she thought, to settle the whole controversy. And she's unequivocal:

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

English pronunciations of the counties, through the ears of a Pomeranian knight visiting in 1584:

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 16/10/2024

Help! Any ideas what the underlined says? These be the artificial? commodities which I Peter Jordanus together with my adherents or -ad-toz by the permission of God do promise to accomplish and perform for the common wealth of this realm of England

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

In 1774 he was officially "recognised" - having somehow established a dubious aristocratic pedigree from the English College of Arms - as being French nobility. A fittingly implausible peak to an astonishingly effective career.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Overall, Holker's efforts were a success, and in 1755 he was promoted to the post of Inspector-General of Manufactures. He became a sort of innovation inspector, touring France and giving advice on how to catch-up with and outcompete the English. Here's one of his reports:

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Holker needed these English workers to spread their skills to thee French, but they were fearful that once they had done this they would be abandoned, left jobless in a strange land and despised as traitors back home. The solution was all about aligning their incentives:

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Holker's strategy in finding agents was to always have at least three or four - too few and they might insist on higher fees! He soon created a small colony of some 30 English people in France: over a dozen skilled cotton velvet workers along with their wives and children.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Holker's first task was to bring the manufacture of cotton velvets to France. He went to England in 1751 - still presumably incognito - to make models of the machinery, collect samples of the cloth, find skilled workers who might be enticed, and build a network of agents.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

The French had long been jealous of Lancashire's textile industries, including all-cotton velvets as a cheaper & sturdier alternative to silk in waistcoats and breeches. And fustians - a twilled cotton-linen combo, including jean, corduroy, and knock-off velvets like velveteen.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

In 1751, Holker's career took yet another turn. He was recruited by the French government as an industrial spymaster. His mission (which he accepted eagerly): to steal British textile technologies.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Holker was even a successful spy-catcher. He successfully identified "Pickle", young Alastair MacDonell of Glengarry, who was a spy for the British in Charles's circle. But Charles refused to believe him (oops)

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

In 1750 Holker took on an even riskier assignment, taking Bonnie Prince Charlie in secret to London, to meet prominent crypto-Jacobites. The meeting led to nothing, but Holker - the prince's sole guide and companion - managed to get him securely there and back.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Holker managed to escape to France, joining Lord Ogilvy and other veterans of the failed '45 to become an officer in the French army. He even fought at the Battle of Lauffeld, winning a victory over the Duke of Cumberland who had captured him in Carlisle.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

But Holker never made it to trial. London's Jacobites smuggled in files, ropes, and info. He filed through the irons and bars, climbed onto the roof, and used planks from the cell's table to cross onto the roof of a nearby house, hiding in a water-butt when he disturbed a dog.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

When the British troops arrived at Carlisle in pursuit of the rebels, Holker was captured. And as a lieutenant in the uprising he was sent to London, to Newgate prison, to sit with his legs bound in irons to await trial and certain execution as a traitor.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Holker had been born in 1719, the same year as the last Jacobite rebellion, so '45 must have been a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But Charles lost heart around Derby and turned around. Holker was left to garrison Carlisle as Charles retreated into Scotland to hunker down.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

In 1745, James II's grandson Charles, aka Bonnie Prince Charlie ("My Bonnie lies over the ocean"), landed in the Scottish Highlands and raised the royal standard. Charles's uprising took Scotland and marched into England. When they arrived at Manchester Holker joined up and was made a lieutenant.

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Holker was a skilled cloth manufacturer in 1740s Manchester. But he was also a Catholic - at time when they were second-class citizens - and a Jacobite. He believed in the claim of the Catholic descendants of the deposed king James II, rather than George II, to rule Great Britain

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Anton Howes @antonhowes.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

Let me tell you the extraordinary story of one of history's greatest spies. Not exactly in the mould of James Bond, but a master of industrial espionage. His name was John Holker.

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