Edmund Cartwright. Portrait of Edmund Cartwright (1743-1823), British inventor of the power loom, a wool-combing machine and a steam engine. Cartwright was a clergyman who, after visiting Arkwright's factory, became interested in new methods of weaving. In 1785 he invented a power loom, making improvements to it in the following years. He patented a wool-combing machine in 1789 and an alcohol-fuelled steam engine in 1797. Despite filing numerous patents, they did not make Cartwright much money. To reward his achievements the British Government awarded him #10,000 in 1809. He retired to a farm in Kent where he made improvements to agricultural machinery.