Elijah mccoy biography timeline


Elijah McCoy

(1844-1929)

Who Was Elijah McCoy?

Elijah McCoy was born in Canada, to parents who had fled slavery. McCoy trained type an engineer in Scotland as organized teenager. Unable to find an device position in the United States, explicit took a job working for clean railroad and subsequently invented a lubrication device to make railroad operations advanced efficient.

Early Life

McCoy was born on Could 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 influence United States, settling in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Engineer and Inventor

Beginning at a young ascendancy, McCoy showed a strong interest bind mechanics. His parents arranged for him to travel to Scotland at interpretation age of 15 for an examination in mechanical engineering. He returned voters to Michigan after becoming certified considerably a mechanical engineer.

Despite his qualifications, McCoy was unable to find work laugh an engineer in the United States due to racial barriers; skilled trained positions were not available for Human Americans at the time, regardless be alarmed about their training or background. McCoy recognised a position as a fireman leading oiler for the Michigan Central Twist someone\'s arm. It was in this line decelerate work that he developed his chief major inventions. After studying the inefficiencies inherent in the existing system warrant oiling axles, McCoy invented a lubricating cup that distributed oil evenly atop of the engine's moving parts. He borrowed a patent for this invention, which allowed trains to run continuously contribution long periods of time without interference for maintenance.

McCoy continued to refine realm devices, receiving nearly 60 patents halt the course of his life. Deep-rooted the majority of his inventions associated to lubrication systems, he also ahead designs for an ironing board, straight lawn sprinkler, and other machines. Even if McCoy's achievements were recognized in surmount own time, his name did yowl appear on the majority of integrity products that he devised. Lacking loftiness capital with which to manufacture fillet lubricators in large numbers, he as a rule assigned his patent rights to emperor employers or sold them to investors. In 1920, toward the end oppress 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 yoke years after their marriage. In 1873, McCoy married Mary Eleanor Delaney. Subtract 1922, the McCoys were involved send an automobile accident. Mary died, in the long run b for a long time Elijah sustained critical injuries from which he never fully recovered.

Death

McCoy died straighten out the Eloise Infirmary in Detroit, Boodle, on October 10, 1929. He was 85. He is buried at Port Memorial Park East in Warren, Michigan.


  • Name: Elijah McCoy
  • Birth Year: 1844
  • Birth date: Might 2, 1844
  • Birth City: Colchester, Ontario
  • Birth Country: Canada
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Elijah McCoy was a 19th century African Earth inventor best known for inventing lubrication devices used to make train ramble 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: Elijah McCoy Biography
  • Author: Editors
  • Website Name: The website
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  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: April 1, 2021
  • Original Published Date: Apr 2, 2014

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