Generally, when people think of famous African-American inventors, one of the
first names that springs to mind is George Washington Carver. Perhaps most
famously, Carver's inventions included the discovery of over 300 different uses
for peanuts – such as making cooking oil, axle grease and printer's ink. But
despite his penchant for inventing, Carver was never interested in money or
prestige so much as helping his fellow man.
Born at the end of the civil war, George Washington Carver displayed a strong
desire for knowledge from an early age and took particular interest in plants.
As a young boy, Carver became known as the "plant doctor" and was regularly
called upon by neighbors to "cure" ailing plants. But it wasn't until late in
his twenties that Carver had the opportunity to study plants more thoroughly.
While initially enrolled at Simpson College to study art and piano, Carver
transferred to Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now known
simply as Iowa State University) to follow his passion.
Though he was the first African-American student accepted to Iowa State,
George Washington Carver quickly became a campus leader and, excelling in botany
and horticulture, went on to become the university's first African-American
faculty member. After finishing his education, George Washington Carver was
convinced by Booker T. Washington to serve as the director of agriculture at the
upstart Tuskegee Institute. Though the job offered very little in terms of pay,
Carver took the position and ran with it. It was there he devised his method of
crop rotation, whereby farmers would rotate cotton (which depleted the soil of
nutrients) with peanuts (which replenished them) from year to year.
Through the system, crops flourished – but a large surplus of peanuts also
developed. This led George Washington Carver to develop alternate uses for the
peanut. When he later determined that sweet potatoes and pecans also could help
replenish soil, he invented over a hundred different uses for them too. Despite
the positive impact George Washington Carver's inventions had on the South, the
inventor never sought out glory. Instead, he continued to invent, discover and
teach in order to make the world a better place. Inscribed on his tombstone is
the epitaph: "He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he
found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world."
first names that springs to mind is George Washington Carver. Perhaps most
famously, Carver's inventions included the discovery of over 300 different uses
for peanuts – such as making cooking oil, axle grease and printer's ink. But
despite his penchant for inventing, Carver was never interested in money or
prestige so much as helping his fellow man.
Born at the end of the civil war, George Washington Carver displayed a strong
desire for knowledge from an early age and took particular interest in plants.
As a young boy, Carver became known as the "plant doctor" and was regularly
called upon by neighbors to "cure" ailing plants. But it wasn't until late in
his twenties that Carver had the opportunity to study plants more thoroughly.
While initially enrolled at Simpson College to study art and piano, Carver
transferred to Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now known
simply as Iowa State University) to follow his passion.
Though he was the first African-American student accepted to Iowa State,
George Washington Carver quickly became a campus leader and, excelling in botany
and horticulture, went on to become the university's first African-American
faculty member. After finishing his education, George Washington Carver was
convinced by Booker T. Washington to serve as the director of agriculture at the
upstart Tuskegee Institute. Though the job offered very little in terms of pay,
Carver took the position and ran with it. It was there he devised his method of
crop rotation, whereby farmers would rotate cotton (which depleted the soil of
nutrients) with peanuts (which replenished them) from year to year.
Through the system, crops flourished – but a large surplus of peanuts also
developed. This led George Washington Carver to develop alternate uses for the
peanut. When he later determined that sweet potatoes and pecans also could help
replenish soil, he invented over a hundred different uses for them too. Despite
the positive impact George Washington Carver's inventions had on the South, the
inventor never sought out glory. Instead, he continued to invent, discover and
teach in order to make the world a better place. Inscribed on his tombstone is
the epitaph: "He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he
found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world."