Final answer:
Samuel Slater is recognized for introducing the Industrial Revolution in America by building the first successful water-powered cotton mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, after moving from Great Britain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who is credited with starting the Industrial Revolution in America is Samuel Slater. Slater, who memorized blueprints for a spinning machine while working in a cotton factory in Britain, moved to the United States and later built the nation's first successful water-powered cotton mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. This move marked a pivotal point in American industrial history as it shifted the country to mass production and mechanized manufacturing, initially in textiles and later expanding to other sectors.