thumb|Thimonniers Stitch – a chain stitch formed with a barbed needle|182x182pxBarthélemy Thimonnier (19 August 1793 in L'Arbresle, Rhône - 5 July 1857 in Amplepuis) was a French inventor, who is attributed with the invention of the first sewing machine that replicated sewing by hand. He was born in L'Arbresle, in Rhône in France. in the names of both men, supported by the French government. One important early investor of Barthélemy Thimonnier was Louis-Antoine Beaunier of the Saint-Étienne miners' school.
The earliest sewing machine was actually patented by Thomas Saint in 1790, so Thimonnier's machine was not the first. Saint's contribution was not made public until 1874 when William Newton Wilson, himself a sewing machine manufacturer, found the drawings in the London Patent Office and built a machine which worked following some adjustments to the looper. So, in 1790 Thomas Saint had invented a machine with an overhanging arm, a feed mechanism (adequate for the short lengths of leather he intended it for), a vertical needle bar and a looper. The London Science Museum has the model that Wilson built from Saint's drawings.
Sewing machine riot
The same year, he opened (with partners) the first machine-based clothing manufacturing company in the world. It was supposed to create army uniforms. A workshop was established in the rue de Sèvres in Paris with around 80 sewing machines in total.
However in 1831, 150–200
It is unclear whether "Gombert" is mistakenly referring to Barthélemy Thimonnier or referring to one of his partners, funders or employees.
A month later the Gazette des Tribunaux (The Court Gazette) refers to it as the house of "Mr. Petit". This is referring to Maison Germain Petit & Cie, the company established by Barthélemy Thimonnier & Auguste Ferrand.
They also claim mechanic destruction was prevented by the National Guard and are highly critical towards the attempts.
Thimonnier retired from the company the same year, shortly following the riot.(in French).