John Mercer, J.P., F.R.S., F.C.S., M.Ph.S., Chemist (self taught) and inventor of Mercerisation was born and raised in Great Harwood <http://www.great-harwood.org.uk/index.htm>, Lancashire, England. Ian F Ruth Barton wrote: >Apropos nothing in particular. Many years ago, when I was young, spools of >thread said "mercerized cotton" on them. I didn't know what that meant, >and still don't, I just remember seeing that. Ruth > > >At 11:09 PM +0000 3/14/09, A Lee wrote: > > >>Without a copy of Latham to hand, I cannot be sure, but I suggest it could >>be mercer, meaning a merchant who often specialised in the sale of silk >>cloth. The guild of mercers was a particularly influential guild in the city >>of London. >> >>Audrey >> >>