died April 1759, Kensington, Middlesex, Eng.
British inventor.
Working with John Wyatt from about 1730, he developed the first power spinning machine (see drawing frame ), which they patented in 1738. It operated by drawing cotton or wool through pairs of successively faster rollers. It was eventually replaced by Richard Arkwright 's water frame. Paul also patented a carding machine in 1748.