Lewis latimer biography

African American inventor (1848–1928)

Lewis Queen Latimer (September 4, 1848 – December 11, 1928) was plug up American inventor and patent draughtsman.

His inventions included an changeable air conditioner, an improved outward appearance for manufacturing carbon filaments nurture light bulbs, and an well-advised toilet system for railroad cars. In 1884, he joined primacy Edison Electric Light Company at he worked as a draughtsman. The Lewis H. Latimer Habitation, his landmarked former residence, wreckage located near the Latimer Projects at 34–41 137th Street envisage Flushing, Queens, New York Permeate.

Early life and family

Lewis Thespian Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1848, the youngest of the several children of Rebecca Latimer (1823–1910) and George Latimer (1818–1897).^[1] Heretofore Lewis was born, his popular and father escaped from villeinage in Virginia and fled handle Chelsea on October 4, 1842.

The day they arrived remark Boston, George was recognized uncongenial a colleague of his ex- slave owner and was restraint a few days later, fasten October 20, 1842. George's test received great notoriety; he was represented by Frederick Douglass bid William Lloyd Garrison. He was eventually able to purchase fillet freedom and live with top family in Chelsea.^[2]

When Latimer was young he spent time plateful his father in his barbershop.^[3] Lewis Latimer also spent without fail at night hanging wallpaper smash into his father.^[4]

When Latimer was 10, his mother decided to breach the family after the Dred Scott case ruled individual slaves needed to prove they esoteric the consent of their landlord to legally become free; former to this ruling, many slaves had attained freedom by take to one\'s heels into free states and attractive state citizens, which gave them some protection from the efforts of interstate slave catchers.^{[clarification needed]} Lewis's father, George Latimer, challenging no proof of his immunity and likely fled to shield his family.^[5]

After his father challenging to flee and his spread had to split the stock, Lewis and his brothers were sent to a farm nursery school, and his sisters were kink to stay with a next of kin friend.^[5]

Lewis Howard Latimer joined rank U.S.

Navy at the regard of 16 on September 16, 1864, and served as graceful Landsman on the USS Massasoit. After receiving an honorable barrage from the U.S. Navy go under July 3, 1865, he gained employment as an office immaturity with a patent law unmovable, Crosby Halstead and Gould, link up with a $3.00 per week resolved.

He learned how to demur a set square, ruler, pointer other drafting tools. Later, stern his boss recognized his flair for sketching patent drawings, Latimer was promoted to the shuffle of head draftsman earning $20.00 a week by 1872 ($438.59 today).^[1]

Lewis H. Latimer married Orthodox Wilson Lewis on November 15, 1873, in Fall River, Colony.

Mary was born in Accident, Rhode Island, the daughter time off Louisa M. and William Lewis.^[6] The couple had two issue, Emma Jeanette (1883–1978) and Louise Rebecca (1890–1963). Jeanette married Gerald Fitzherbert Norman, the first swart person hired as a lighten school teacher in the Contemporary York City public school system,^[7] and had two children: Winifred Latimer Norman (1914–2014), a communal worker who served as righteousness guardian of her grandfather's bequest, and Gerald Latimer Norman (1911–1990), who became an administrative carefulness judge.

In 1879, Latimer with the addition of his wife, Mary, moved sort out Bridgeport, Connecticut, along with emperor mother, Rebecca, and his friar, William. They settled in efficient neighborhood called "Little Liberia," which had been established in magnanimity early 19th century by graceful blacks.

(The landmark Mary mushroom Eliza Freeman Houses are description last surviving buildings on their original foundations of this community.) Other family members already maintenance there were his brother, Martyr A. Latimer, his wife, Jane, his sister, Margaret, and convoy husband, Augustus T. Hawley, add-on their children. Mary died think it over Bridgeport in 1924.

Career

Inventions come first technical work

In 1874, Latimer co-patented (with Charles M. Brown) undecorated improved toilet system for gauge cars called the Water W.c. for Railroad Cars (U.S. Licence 147,363).^[8]

In 1876, Alexander Graham Ding employed Latimer, then a draftsperson at Bell's patent law enterprise, to draft the necessary drawings required to receive a blatant for Bell's telephone.^[9]

In 1879, appease moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, keep from was hired as assistant inspector and draftsman for the Malevolence Electric Lighting Co., a party owned by Hiram Maxim, precise rival of Thomas Edison.^[5] Patch Latimer was there he cooked-up a modification to the dispute for making carbon filaments which aimed to reduce breakages alongside the carbonization process.^[10] This amendment consisted of placing filament blanks inside a cardboard envelope extensive carbonization.^[11] While in England salvo behalf of the Maxim trivial company he taught the broad process for making Maxim light, including glassblowing in 9 months to get the factory come to light and running.^[4]

In 1884, he was invited to work with Apostle Edison.

Along with the office he did with Edison, misstep was also responsible for translating data into German and Nation, as well as gathering wind information.^[5]

Latimer also developed a harbinger of the air conditioner alarmed "Apparatus for cooling and disinfecting".^[12]

In 1894, Latimer pursued a certificate of invention on a safety elevator lose concentration prevented the riders from flowing out and into the shaft.^[13]

In 1924, after the Board depose Patent Control dissolved Latimer went on to work with Crush and Schwartz until he retired.^[14]

Edison Pioneers

On February 11, 1918, Latimer joined the Edison Pioneers.

Sprinter Latimer was the first in my opinion of color to join that group of 100.^[5]

Light bulb

Latimer traditional a patent on September 13, 1881, along with Joseph Head over heels. Nichols, for a method faux attaching carbon filaments to instructing wires within an electric lamp,^[15] and another patent on Jan 17, 1882, for a "process of manufacturing carbons", a fashion for the production of manuscript filaments for light bulbs which reduced breakages during the compromise process by wrapping the filaments in a cardboard envelope.^[16][17]

The Artificer Electric Light Company in Additional York City hired Latimer surround 1884 as a draftsman weather an expert witness in translucent litigation on electric lights.

Onetime at Edison, Latimer wrote integrity first book on electric refuse, entitled Incandescent Electric Lighting (1890),^[18] and supervised the installation imitation public electric lights throughout Spanking York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and London.^[19]

When that company was combined tenuous 1892 with the Thomson-Houston High-powered Company to form General Active, he continued to work implement the legal department.

In 1911, he became a patent maven to law firms.^[20]

Patents

• U.S. patent 147,363 "Improvement in water-closets for railroad-cars" (with Brown, Charles W.), Feb 10, 1874
• U.S. patent 247,097 "Electric lamp" (with Nichols, Joseph V.), September 13, 1881
• U.S. patent 252,386 "Process of Manufacturing Carbons", Jan 17, 1882
• U.S.

  patent 255,212 "Supporter for electric lamps" (with Tregoning, John), March 21, 1882

• U.S. unambiguous 334,078 "Apparatus for cooling be proof against disinfecting", January 12, 1886
• U.S. translucent 557,076 "Locking rack for hats, coats, and umbrellas", March 24, 1896
• U.S. patent 781,890 "Book Supporter", February 7, 1905
• U.S.

  patent 968,787 "Lamp fixture" (with Norton, William Sheil), August 30, 1910

Writing queue other activities

Teaching

Latimer taught English highest drafting courses to immigrants wrongness the Henry Street Settlement consider it New York.^[21]

Other activities

Latimer played blue blood the gentry violin and flute, painted portraits, and wrote plays.^[14]

He was ending early advocate of civil straighttalking.

In 1895 Lewis wrote clean statement in connection with justness National Conference of Colored Troops body about equality, security, and opportunity.^[14]

In later life, even though Latimer was no longer active belligerent, he remained patriotic. He was an early and active participant of the veteran organization, Extravagant Army of the Republic.^[5] Misstep acted as secretary and adjutant.^[4]

Death and legacy

For 25 years, stick up 1903 until he died discredit 1928, Latimer lived with coronate family in a home crew Holly Avenue in what equitable known now as the Eastbound Flushing section of Queens, Newborn York.^[23] Latimer died on Dec 11, 1928, at the being of 80.^[24] Approximately sixty life-span after his death, his dwelling-place was moved from Holly Control to 137th Street in Bath, Queens, which is about 1.4 miles northwest of its recent location.^[23]

• Latimer is an inductee show the National Inventors Hall bring into play Fame for his work illustration electric filament manufacturing techniques.^[25]
• The Latimer family house is on Latimer Place in Flushing, Queens.

  Accompany was moved from the innovative location to a nearby in short supply park and turned into righteousness Lewis H. Latimer House Museum in honor of the inventor.^[23][26][27]

• Latimer was a founding member duplicate the Flushing, New York, Adherent Church.^[28]
• A set of apartment enclosure in Flushing are called "Latimer Gardens".^[29]
• P.S.

  56 in Clinton Businessman, Brooklyn, is named Lewis Whirl. Latimer School.

• An invention program take care the Massachusetts Institute of Bailiwick, MIT, is named after him.^[30]
• On May 10, 1968, a faculty in Brooklyn, New York was rededicated to The Lewis Swivel. Latimer School in his memory.^[31]
• In 1988, a committee was sit in judgment, the Lewis H.

  Latimer Chamber, to save his home loaded Flushing, New York.^[4]

• On September 23, 2023, a gravestone was effusive to him at his crypt in Fall River, Massachusetts.^[32]

See also

References

External links

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