Elijah McCoy [1844-1929]

Even though his parents were escaped slaves from Kentucky in America, Elijah McCoy was born on Canadian soil on May 2, 1844 in Colchester, Ontario. Growing up, he received a solid education and showed an early interest in mechanical devices. Seven years after slavery was abolished in the United States, he moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan to start his own business as a mechanical engineer.

Elijah McCoy is best known for his contributions to the lubrication of steam engines, a critical issue at the time. Before his inventions, trains would often have to stop every few hours to manually oil the steam engine's moving parts. This was both time-consuming and expensive. To solve this problem, Elijah patented a device that would automatically oil the engine while it was in motion, significantly improving the efficiency of trains and other machines.

Elijah held over 57 patents throughout his lifetime, many of which were related to lubrication. He also invented a folding ironing board, a lawn sprinkler system, and an ironing table. His innovations made him one of the most important figures in the field of mechanical engineering and earned him the nickname “The Real McCoy”.

Despite his numerous inventions and contributions to the field, Elijah faced significant challenges as an African American inventor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, the US patent office did not recognize African Americans as inventors, and many of his patents were credited to white men who had copied or claimed his ideas as their own. However, despite these challenges, Elijah continued to innovate and was eventually recognized for his contributions by the African American community.

Today, Elijah McCoy is remembered as a pioneering inventor who helped to lay the foundation for modern mechanical engineering. His inventions and innovations continue to impact the world, and he remains an important figure in the history of African American innovation. He passed away on October 10, 1929 at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy of ingenuity and determination.