Andrew Jackson Beard (1849-1921)
Andrew Jackson Beard lived an extraordinary life for a black American inventor. His invention of the Jenny automatic car coupler revolutionized railroad safety. Unlike the vast majority of inventors who never profit from their patents, he profited from his inventions.
Andrew Beard was born a slave on a plantation in Woodland, Alabama, in 1849, shortly before slavery ended.
He received emancipation at age 15 and he married at age 16. Andrew Beard was a farmer, carpenter, blacksmith, a railroad worker, a businessman and finally an inventor.
No comments:
Post a Comment