The machine-breaking protest movement named after Ned Ludd was the Luddites.
The movement emerged among English textile workers during 1811–1816, beginning in Nottinghamshire before spreading to Yorkshire and Lancashire. Protesters attacked particular machines they believed were being used to cut wages, evade skilled labour practices, or produce inferior goods—not technology in every form.
Ned Ludd was probably a legendary figure rather than a verifiable historical leader. Stories claimed that he smashed stocking frames in 1779, and workers later used names such as General Ludd, Captain Ludd, or King Ludd in threatening letters and proclamations. The name gave scattered local protests a shared identity.
A common modern mistake is to treat Luddites simply as people who hate new technology. Historically, many were skilled workers seeking control over pay, training, and production standards. The British government eventually suppressed the movement with troops, executions, and transportation.