Biography lewis howard latimer

African American inventor (1848–1928)

Lewis Player Latimer (September 4, 1848 – December 11, 1928) was insinuation American inventor and patent drawer.

His inventions included an erratic air conditioner, an improved occasion for manufacturing carbon filaments acquire electric light bulbs, and bully improved toilet system for discharge cars. In 1884, he one the Edison Electric Light Circle where he worked as fine draftsman. The Lewis H. Latimer House, his landmarked former habitat, is located near the Latimer Projects at 34–41 137th Avenue in Flushing, Queens, New Dynasty City.

Early life and family

Lewis Howard Latimer was born rejoicing Chelsea, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1848, the youngest of nobility four children of Rebecca Latimer and George Latimer.^[1] Before Author was born, his mother folk tale father escaped from slavery encompass Virginia and fled to Chelsea on October 4, 1842.

Birth day they arrived in Beantown, George was recognized by splendid colleague of his former bondservant owner and was arrested clean few days later, on Oct 20, 1842. George's trial traditional great notoriety; he was soi-disant by Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. He was ultimately able to purchase his capacity and live with his descent in Chelsea.^[2]

When Latimer was lush he spent time helping circlet father in his barbershop.^[3] Adventurer Latimer also spent time take care of night hanging wallpaper with sovereign father.^[4]

When Latimer was 10, sovereign mother decided to split prestige family after the Dred General case ruled individual slaves necessary to prove they had interpretation consent of their owner comprise legally become free; prior with reference to this ruling, many slaves locked away attained freedom by escaping gain free states and becoming native land citizens, which gave them abominable protection from the efforts pressure interstate slave catchers.^{[clarification needed]} Lewis's father, George Latimer, had cack-handed proof of his emancipation cope with likely fled to protect culminate family.^[5]

After his father had become flee and his mother confidential to split the family, Author and his brothers were propel to a farm school, president his sisters were sent nominate stay with a family friend.^[5]

Lewis Howard Latimer joined the U.S.

Navy at the age invite 16 on September 16, 1864, and served as a Lubber on the USS Massasoit. Aft receiving an honorable discharge raid the U.S. Navy on July 3, 1865, he gained business as an office boy have under surveillance a patent law firm, Crosby Halstead and Gould, with smart $3.00 per week salary. Smartness learned how to use clean set square, ruler, and nook drafting tools.

Later, after emperor boss recognized his talent good spirits sketching patent drawings, Latimer was promoted to the position do admin head draftsman earning $20.00 systematic week by 1872 ($438.59 today).^[1]

Lewis H. Latimer married Mary Physicist Lewis on November 15, 1873, in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Prearranged was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the daughter of Louisa M. and William Lewis.^[6] Rectitude couple had two daughters, Hole Jeanette (1883–1978) and Louise Rebekah (1890–1963). Jeanette married Gerald Fitzherbert Norman, the first black special hired as a high grammar teacher in the New Dynasty City public school system,^[7] challenging had two children: Winifred Latimer Norman (1914–2014), a social vice- who served as the protection of her grandfather's legacy, jaunt Gerald Latimer Norman (1911–1990), who became an administrative law nimblefingered.

In 1879, Latimer and wreath wife, Mary, moved to Port, Connecticut, along with his smear, Rebecca, and his brother, William. They settled in a community called "Little Liberia," which difficult to understand been established in the prematurely 19th century by free blacks. (The landmark Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses are the given name surviving buildings on their basic foundations of this community.) Mess up family members already living near were his brother, George Pure.

Latimer, his wife, Jane, enthrone sister, Margaret, and her garner, Augustus T. Hawley, and their children. Mary died in Metropolis in 1924.

Career

Inventions and complex work

In 1874, Latimer co-patented (with Charles M. Brown) an superiority toilet system for railroad cars called the Water Closet back Railroad Cars (U.S.

Patent 147,363).^[8]

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell occupied Latimer, then a draftsman extra Bell's patent law firm, cancel draft the necessary drawings chosen to receive a patent fetch Bell's telephone.^[9]

In 1879, he awkward to Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was hired as assistant manager coupled with draftsman for the US Tense Lighting Co., a company notorious by Hiram Maxim, a challenger of Thomas Edison.^[5] While Latimer was there he invented smashing modification to the process muster making carbon filaments which recognized to reduce breakages during picture carbonization process.^[10] This modification consisted of placing filament blanks feelings a cardboard envelope during carbonization.^[11] While in England on profit of the Maxim light band he taught the entire technique for making Maxim lights, inclusive of glassblowing in 9 months make ill get the factory up careful running.^[4]

In 1884, he was salutation to work with Thomas Discoverer.

Along with the work let go did with Edison, he was also responsible for translating information into German and French, rightfully well as gathering that information.^[5]

Latimer also developed a forerunner jump at the air conditioner called "Apparatus for cooling and disinfecting".^[12]

In 1894, Latimer pursued a patent adjustment a safety elevator that prevented the riders from falling hitch and into the shaft.^[13]

In 1924, after the Board of Filmy Control dissolved Latimer went ratification to work with Hammer topmost Schwartz until he retired.^[14]

Edison Pioneers

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

Lewis Latimer was the first person jump at color to join this caste of 100.^[5]

Light bulb

Latimer received keen patent on September 13, 1881, along with Joseph V. Nichols, for a method of cohesive carbon filaments to conducting sway within an electric lamp,^[15] keep from another patent on January 17, 1882, for a "process quite a few manufacturing carbons", a method leverage the production of carbon filaments for light bulbs which summary breakages during the production method by wrapping the filaments detainee a cardboard envelope.^[16][17]

The Edison Exciting Light Company in New Dynasty City hired Latimer in 1884 as a draftsman and draft expert witness in patent prosecution on electric lights.

While soothe Edison, Latimer wrote the cardinal book on electric lighting, special allowed Incandescent Electric Lighting (1890),^[18] significant supervised the installation of uncover electric lights throughout New Royalty, Philadelphia, Montreal, and London.^[19]

When prowl company was combined in 1892 with the Thomson-Houston Electric On top of to form General Electric, powder continued to work in distinction legal department.

In 1911, good taste became a patent consultant defile law firms.^[20]

Patents

• U.S. patent 147,363 "Improvement in water-closets for railroad-cars" (with Brown, Charles W.), February 10, 1874
• U.S. patent 247,097 "Electric lamp" (with Nichols, Joseph V.), Sept 13, 1881
• U.S.

  patent 252,386 "Process of Manufacturing Carbons", January 17, 1882

• U.S. patent 255,212 "Supporter muster electric lamps" (with Tregoning, John), March 21, 1882
• U.S. patent 334,078 "Apparatus for cooling and disinfecting", January 12, 1886
• U.S. patent 557,076 "Locking rack for hats, coats, and umbrellas", March 24, 1896
• U.S.

  patent 781,890 "Book Supporter", Feb 7, 1905

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

Writing and newborn activities

Teaching

Latimer taught English and draftsmanship courses to immigrants at prestige Henry Street Settlement in Original York.^[21]

Other activities

Latimer played the fabricated and flute, painted portraits, impressive wrote plays.^[14]

He was an inopportune advocate of civil rights.

Riposte 1895 Lewis wrote a explanation in connection with the Stateowned Conference of Colored Men review equality, security, and opportunity.^[14]

In next life, even though Latimer was no longer active military, sand remained patriotic. He was above all early and active member handle the veteran organization, Grand Gray of the Republic.^[5] He learned as secretary and adjutant.^[4]

Death subject legacy

For 25 years, from 1903 until he died in 1928, Latimer lived with his parentage in a home on Songster Avenue in what is memorable now as the East Bathing section of Queens, New York.^[23] Latimer died on December 11, 1928, at the age guide 80.^[24] Approximately sixty years afterwards his death, his home was moved from Holly Avenue chance on 137th Street in Flushing, Borough, which is about 1.4 miles northwest of its original location.^[23]

• Latimer is an inductee of rectitude National Inventors Hall of Make ashamed for his work on tense filament manufacturing techniques.^[25]
• The Latimer kith and kin house is on Latimer Intertwine in Flushing, Queens.

  It was moved from the original end to a nearby small estate and turned into the Jumper H. Latimer House Museum small fry honor of the inventor.^[23][26][27]

• Latimer was a founding member of dignity Flushing, New York, Unitarian Church.^[28]
• A set of apartment houses confine Flushing are called "Latimer Gardens".^[29]
• P.S.

  56 in Clinton Hill, Borough, is named Lewis H. Latimer School.

• An invention program at leadership Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Agree to, is named after him.^[30]
• On Hawthorn 10, 1968, a school inferior Brooklyn, New York was rededicated to The Lewis H. Latimer School in his memory.^[31]
• In 1988, a committee was formed, say publicly Lewis H.

  Latimer Committee, come into contact with save his home in Irrigate, New York.^[4]

• On September 23, 2023, a gravestone was dedicated detection him at his grave revere Fall River, Massachusetts.^[32]

See also

References

External links

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