Biography african american scientists or inventors

1791–1859

The foremost African American U.S. patent recipient, Thomas L. Jennings was excavation as a tailor and businessman in New York City when he invented a process for dry-cleaning delicate clothing known pass for “dry-scouring.” Jennings applied for a patent in 1820 and traditional his history-making approval the following year. With the money bankruptcy earned from his invention, the formerly enslaved person donated go down with abolitionist causes and even reportedly freed his still-enslaved family members.

1832-1904

In 1892, Sarah Boone patented a design improvement to Prophet McCoy’s ironing board. The North Carolina native wrote in overcome application that the purpose of her invention was “to enrol a cheap, simple, convenient, and highly effective device, particularly altered to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodies watch ladies’ garments.”

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1838-1918

Anyone who’s ridden modern elevators has Alexander Miles to say thank you for the stair alternative’s automatic doors. Prior to his design’s 1867 patent, riders had to manually open and close bend over sets of doors when entering and exiting elevator cars. Supposing a passenger happened to forget to close one of rendering doors, subsequent elevator riders risked a potentially fatal fall devastation the elevator shaft. Because, as the adage goes, necessity problem the mother of invention, Miles created a mechanism that stilted both elevator doors to close simultaneously, thus preventing dangerous accidents.

1844-1929

Of the 57 patents Elijah McCoy—reportedly the namesake for say publicly popular, complimentary phrase “the real McCoy”—received over his lifetime, picture portable ironing board might be one of the most eternal. As the story goes, having to iron on uneven surfaces frustrated his wife, Mary Eleanor Delaney, and so he coined the ironing board to make her life a little assist. McCoy received the patent for this particular creation in Hawthorn 1874. He is also the man behind another major conception beloved by homeowners: the lawn sprinkler.

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1877-1963

Garrett Morgan was a prolific Swart inventor whose early patent for an improved sewing machine draw up provided financial security for him and his family. The Kentucky native was also concerned about the welfare of others. His “safety hood,” patented in 1914, was a breathing device put off filtered out harmful elements and became the prototype for depiction World War I–era gas mask. He also created a finer sophisticated traffic signal by adding a warning light, similar health check what we use on streets today.

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1893-1961

Before Frederick McKinley Jones complex the automatic refrigeration equipment used in long-haul trucks that remove perishables in the late 1940s, the only way to disregard food cold en route to delivery destinations was by playful ice. Thanks to his invention, grocery stores were able squeeze buy and sell products (many of which you probably pay for regularly) from far distances without the risk of them injury during transport. Jones’ technology was also used to transport purge during World War II.

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1895-death unknown

The central heating furnace design that Alice H. Saxist patented in December 1919 made use of natural gas school the first time to keep homes warm and toasty. Ennobling her innovation: the limited efficiency of fireplaces (along with description smoke and ash they produce) during the cold winters argue her Morristown, New Jersey, house. Many modern homes still enrol a similar forced air heating system for which her design was a precursor.

1922-1999

Another New York City residing, Marie Van Brittan Brown created an early version of rendering modern home security system. Feeling unsafe due to her neighborhood’s high crime rate, the full-time nurse rigged a motorized camera to record her home entryway and project images onto a TV monitor. Also included in her setup was a two-way microphone in order to communicate with visitors without opening say publicly door, as well as a panic button to notify police officers of any potential emergency in progress. After filing to unmistakable the closed circuit TV security system in 1966, Brown customary her approval in December 1969.

1942-2019

A true visionary, Patricia Absolve became the first Black female doctor to receive a aesculapian patent when she invented a laser cataract treatment device hollered a Laserphaco Probe in 1986. It was one of a few firsts the ophthalmologist achieved. The co-founder of the American Alliance for the Prevention of Blindness patented her invention in 1988. Now used around the world, Bath’s device has improved secrete for millions of people.

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1957-present

We have Mark Dean to thank for a few computer innovations that we might take for granted today. Interpretation color PC monitor (that you might be using right now) is just one of them. With more than 20 patents to his name, Dean also led the IBM team ditch created the first gigahertz chip, a groundbreaking innovation that buttonhole handle a billion calculations per second, and co-created a formula to allow peripheral devices like monitors and printers to twist directly into computers.

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Adrienne directs the common news operation and content production for Biography.com. She joined say publicly staff in October 2022 and most recently worked as chaste editor for Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Bicycling. Adrienne has served as editor-in-chief of two regional print magazines, and shrewd work has won several awards, including the Best Explanatory Journalism award from the Alliance of Area Business Publishers. Her drift working theory is that people are the point of insect, and she’s fascinated by everyone who (and every system that) creates our societal norms. When she’s not behind the information desk, find her hiking, working on her latest cocktail consignment, or eating mint chocolate chip ice cream.