About John Lofting
Lived 1659 – 1742 (aged 82–83). John Lofting was a Dutch engineer.
John Lofting (1659 – 15 June 1742, London), originally Jan Loftingh, was an engineer and entrepreneur from the Dutch Republic.
Biography His parents were Herman and Johanna. He moved to London, England, before 1686. and a horse-powered thimble knurling machine. However, in or about 1700, he moved his main operation to Great Marlow in Buckinghamshire to take advantage of the River Thames' ability to turn a water wheel which improved productivity, enabling the production of over 2 million thimbles per year.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John Lofting?
Dutch engineer
When was John Lofting born?
John Lofting was born in 1659.
When did John Lofting die?
John Lofting died in 1742.
What was John Lofting's occupation?
John Lofting was an engineer.
What nationality was John Lofting?
John Lofting was Dutch.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Lofting. https://biography.guide/john-lofting/
MLA: "John Lofting." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-lofting/.
Chicago: "John Lofting." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-lofting/.
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