Eli Whitney: Great American Inventor

Eli Whitney: Great American Inventor

Eli Whitney was a great American inventor. He was also a noted manufacturer, craftsman, and pioneer. He is best known, of course, for inventing the cotton gin. Many also know him for his manufacturing of interchangeable gun parts. Both of these achievements had profound impact on American history and brought fame to a humble farmer's son who always tried his best and hung on to his dreams.

Eli Whitney was born in Westboro, Massachusetts, on December 8, 1765. He was the eldest of four born to Elizabeth Fay and Eli Whitney. His mother died when Eli was twelve years old. Eli senior was a farmer and, like many at the time, he had a shop in which to maintain the tools and other things needed for farm life. Eli learned to use his father's variety of tools very young, and loved working in the shop. He never showed any interest in farm work, but had great mechanical inclinations. As a boy he had seen a violin and made a fine one for himself. He was also able to take apart his father's watch and completely reassemble the delicate workings in perfect running order. He was constantly fixing and making things and, as news of his craftiness spread, he was often fixing things for neighbors and friends as well. (Cannon, 1963)

Eli was well known as a mechanic repair genius in his hometown, and early on he began to make an impact on a wider horizon. Eli was just a teenager when the Revolutionary War broke out. Since manufacturing was concentrated on making weapons and supplies for battle and because trade with England was cut off there came a great need for nails. Eli's keen business sense and vision of helping his country led him to form a plan for manufacturing nails himself. He had saved a few dollars of his own through his little projects, and with his father's help he set up a forge in the workshop. His nails were in high demand and after working by himself for a time he encountered problems with mass production. He decided to hire help so he borrowed his father's horse and was gone for three days to find a man. On his forty-mile journey Eli gathered information on mass production and found a man who worked for him for three months.