Monday, April 9, 2018

Trailblazers in Black History: Henry Blair


Born in 1807, Henry Blair was the second African American to receive a patent on his invention. Blair received his first patent on October 14, 1834 for his invention of the corn seed planter. It allowed the farmers to plant their corn much faster, and with much less labor. The machine also helped with weed control. 

Little is known of the life of Henry Blair, except that he was probably a free farmer of Montgomery County, Maryland. it is assumed he was a free man since the patent would not have been approved to be in the name of a slave. Only the second African American to receive a patent, he was a forerunner of a long line of future Black inventors.

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Source: Black History in America

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