The Real McCoy

Elijah McCoy is the inventor of many things, from oil lubricating systems for steam engine trains, portable ironing board, lawn sprinklers, and others. He was born May 2, 1844. During this time most African Americans were born as slaves. Fortunately, he was born in Colchester, Canada, a freeman. McCoy is the son of Mildred and George McCoy, they were American slaves that fled from Kentucky to Canada, using the underground railroad. Elijah married twice as his first wife (1868) Ann Elizabeth Stewart died after four years of marriage. He married his second wife Mary Eleanora Delaney in 1873.

McCoy moved to America at age three, he was one of 11 siblings. He showed interest in the way machinery operates. By age 15, his parents accrued enough money to send him to Scotland for a mechanical engineering apprenticeship. Following his studies, he returned to Michigan where he struggled finding a job due to discrimination because of racism. He settled for a job on the Central Michigan Railroad, lubricating or oiling moving parts of the engine. This manual process was needed to ensure the engine wouldn’t overheat.

This led to him inventing a mechanism that automatically lubricated the moving parts of the steam engine. He received a patent for his invention in 1872. After this invention, it allowed McCoy to quit his job and focus on inventing. He also invented the portable ironing board, lawn sprinklers, and other items. He received over 50 patents in his lifetime. He became the founder and president of, ‘Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company’ in Detroit. McCoy passed away from hypertension and dementia, in Detroit, MI, on October 10,1859.

 Thank you, Elijah McCoy for your contributions to the culture!