Samuel Morse Born before 12 Jun 1576 in Boxted, Essex, England Ancestors Son of Thomas Morse [uncertain] and Margaret (King) Morse [uncertain] Brother of John Morse, Sarah Morse, Daniel Morse, Daniel Morse, Joseph Morse [half], Nathaniel Morse [half] and Philip Morse [half]

It was invented between 1775 and 1779 by Samuel Crompton. The self-acting (automatic) mule was patented by Richard Roberts in 1825. At its peak there were 50,000,000 mule spindles in Lancashire alone.