Posted: September 8th, 2022

Mr. Whitney’s life, Family, and Accomplishments

Mr. Whitney’s life, Family, and Accomplishments
Mr. Whitney
Eli Whitney is an American inventor who is popular for inventing the cotton gin. Whitney was born on December 8th, 1765 in Westboro, Massachusetts. He was instrumental in the industrial revolution for his significant input in inventing the machine (Donnelly 176). The impact was crucial in the agricultural sector after he pushed for mass development of interchangeable parts. The invention led to a profitable and mass production of cotton leading to the need for slaves to work in the plantations (Donnelly 176). The Yale college student graduated intending to become a lawyer. He worked as a laborer and a teacher to save money to join college. He worked as a lawyer before becoming an inventor. He patented the inventions leaving behind a legacy for his family even after his death.
Family
Whitney was the eldest son to Eli Whitney Sr. and Elizabeth Fay in a family of six. In 1817 he wed Henrietta Edwards. The duo had several children with one of them, Eli Whitney Jr, continuing with the manufacturing business (Donnelly 177). Other children included Elizabeth Fay Whitney, Frances Edward Whitney, and Susan Edward Whitney. Whitney died in 1825 in New Haven, Connecticut just after his 59th birthday (Donnelly 177). The cause of his death was prostate cancer. His biological mother died when Whitney was 11 years. His father Eli Whitney Sr. remarried a woman who opposed Whitney’s education (Donnelly 178). The stepmother was opposed to Whitney’s desire to join college. He was passionate about education and accomplishing significant milestones in his life. He moved from his home to Georgia to pursue his passion for inventions.
Accomplishment
Whitney was an American inventor and manufacturer who had a significant impact on America’s history of manufacturing. He perfected the cotton gin that was responsible for extracting cotton from the cotton seeds (Dylla 143). The ability to speed up the process was crucial in spurring commercial and large scale production of cotton. Studies show that he made over $90,000 from his patented invention (Dylla 143). In 1807 the Congress declined to renew the patent. Whitney went ahead to invent other technologies such as the milling machine.
Whitney started the passion for machine and technical work at an early age. At age 15 he was working part-time in his father’s workshop of making nails for sale (Dylla 144). His passion for machine work was triggered when he went to Georgia and found that slaves could take a whole day to extract one pound of cotton. He decided to develop a machine that would increase production (Dylla 144). The machine attracted the attention of the government that sponsored him in producing the machines on large scale. The government gave him funds to produce the machines. He received in total over $131,000 but he did not deliver all the machines he had promised on time (Dylla 145). He engaged the government in producing muskets for the production of guns. He was granted the contract but he only delivered 500 muskets in 1801 after 10 years.
The American inventor was diagnosed with prostate cancer that eventually led to his death. He experienced significant pain until he devised machines that could mechanically ease his pain (Donnelly 178). Whitney spent a significant part of his last years researching his condition and treatment (Donnelly 179). Sadly, the inventions did not except him from scandals, lawsuits, demonstrations, due to conflict with the government, farmers, and other cotton gin inventors.

Works Cited
Donnelly, Stephen. “Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation.” Historical Journal of Massachusetts 45.2 (2017): 176-193.
Dylla, H. Frederick. “Innovation in a Young Nation.” Scientific Journeys. Springer, Cham, (2020): 143-146.

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Tags: Mr. Whitney's life, Family