Eli Whitney
Eli Whitney was an American inventor, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer, best known for inventing the cotton gin and developing the concept of mass production of interchangeable parts.
Inventor
December 8, 1765
Sagittarius
January 08, 1825
59
Westboro, Massachusetts
Eli Whitney (1765-1825) was a renowned American inventor, mechanical engineer, and manufacturer who revolutionized the cotton industry with his invention of the cotton gin. This machine, patented in 1794, automated the process of removing seeds from cotton, making its production highly profitable. In addition to the cotton gin, Whitney also pioneered the concept of interchangeable parts, significantly improving manufacturing processes. His contributions to American industry extended to the development of the American musket and the design of firearms for the U.S. government. Among his other notable creations were a nail manufacturing machine and a milling machine for producing smooth metal surfaces. Overall, Whitney’s inventions and innovations had a profound and lasting impact on American industry and manufacturing.