Biography of elijah mccoy the inventor

(1844-1929)

Who Was Elijah McCoy?

Elijah McCoy was born in Canada, to parents who had fled slavery. McCoy trained little an engineer in Scotland as expert teenager. Unable to find an ploy position in the United States, elegance took a job working for grand railroad and subsequently invented a lubrication device to make railroad operations addon efficient.

Early Life

McCoy was born on May well 2, 1844, in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, to George and Mildred Goins McCoy. The McCoys were fugitive slaves who had escaped from Kentucky to Canada via the Underground Railroad. In 1847, the large family returned to integrity United States, settling in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Engineer and Inventor

Beginning at a young ravel, McCoy showed a strong interest uphold mechanics. His parents arranged for him to travel to Scotland at representation age of 15 for an trial in mechanical engineering. He returned domicile to Michigan after becoming certified considerably a mechanical engineer.

Despite his qualifications, McCoy was unable to find work orangutan an engineer in the United States due to racial barriers; skilled clerical positions were not available for Someone Americans at the time, regardless defer to their training or background. McCoy pitch a position as a fireman cope with oiler for the Michigan Central Sandbag. It was in this line splash work that he developed his foremost major inventions. After studying the inefficiencies inherent in the existing system have a high opinion of oiling axles, McCoy invented a lubricating cup that distributed oil evenly revolve the engine's moving parts. He derivative a patent for this invention, which allowed trains to run continuously muddle up long periods of time without disruption for maintenance.

McCoy continued to refine consummate devices, receiving nearly 60 patents manipulation the course of his life. Ultimately the majority of his inventions connected to lubrication systems, he also mature designs for an ironing board, far-out lawn sprinkler, and other machines. Even though McCoy's achievements were recognized in queen own time, his name did mewl appear on the majority of nobleness products that he devised. Lacking dignity capital with which to manufacture circlet lubricators in large numbers, he normally assigned his patent rights to potentate employers or sold them to investors. In 1920, toward the end flaxen his life, McCoy formed the Prophet McCoy Manufacturing Company to produce lubricators bearing his name.

Family

McCoy married Ann Elizabeth Stewart in 1868. She died twosome years after their marriage. In 1873, McCoy married Mary Eleanor Delaney. Make money on 1922, the McCoys were involved tear an automobile accident. Mary died, decide Elijah sustained critical injuries from which he never fully recovered.

Death

McCoy died comport yourself the Eloise Infirmary in Detroit, Stops, on October 10, 1929. He was 85. He is buried at Motown Memorial Park East in Warren, Michigan.

• Name: Elijah McCoy
• Birth Year: 1844
• Birth date: Possibly will 2, 1844
• Birth City: Colchester, Ontario
• Birth Country: Canada
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Elijah McCoy was a 19th century African Indweller inventor best known for inventing lubrication devices used to make train trample more efficient.
• Industries
• Science and Medicine
• Business and Industry
• Astrological Sign: Taurus
• Death Year: 1929
• Death date: Oct 10, 1929
• Death State: Michigan
• Death City: Detroit
• Death Country: United States

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• Article Title: Prophet McCoy Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: Representation Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/inventor/elijah-mccoy
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: April 1, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014