Lieven Bauwens
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Lieven Bauwens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 June 1769  |
| Died | March 17, 1822 (aged 52) |
| Resting place | Père Lachaise Cemetery |
Lieven Bauwens (14 June 1769 in Ghent – 17 March 1822 in Paris) was an entrepreneur and industrial spy from the Austrian Netherlands. He was sent to Great Britain at a young age and brought a spinning mule and skilled workers to the European continent.
He started textile plants in Paris (1799) and Ghent (1800). In Ghent he was also mayor for one year. As a leading industrial, he was visited by Napoleon in 1810 and awarded the Legion d'Honneur.
In 1801, Bauwens smuggled a spinning mule and steam engine out of Great Britain to help set up the textile industry in Flanders.[1]: 22
The spinning mule that was brought to Ghent can still be visited, in the Museum of Industry (Ghent) .[2]
