As in other forms of espionage, people usually act against their country’s interests, or that of their employer’s, for a combination of financial gain and ideology. During the Industrial Revolution era, European governments paid people to set-up businesses, but some made the move due to sentiment.
John Holker, a disaffected Jacobite, was recruited by France and became a manufacturer of textile machinery.
Michael Alcock was an interesting case. He moved to France to avoid embezzlement charges along with his mistress, leaving his wife and business partner to face bankruptcy. However, it turns out that his wife was part of the highly profitable scheme. She rejoined him, whereupon they lived ménage à trois on the upper Loire River where Alcock ran a forge and manufactured hardware.
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