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Today’s Black History WOW!
Born on May 8, 1848, in Maryland, John A. Burr was an African American inventor who received over 30 patents that spanned a wide array of technological fields. His parents were enslaved but were later freed. As a teenager during the Civil War, Burr worked as a field hand. However, his inventive talent was noticed by wealthy Blacks who paid for him to attend engineering school.
His most celebrated invention, the rotary lawnmower, was patented on May 9, 1899. While lawn maintenance tools previously existed, Burr's design revolutionized the concept by introducing innovations that made grass-cutting more efficient and user-friendly. His patent dramatically improved the rotary blade and allowed for easier height adjustments and grass discharge, streamlining the process so significantly that subsequent lawnmowers owe much to his original blueprint. Burr also designed improvements to his lawn mower, including mulching, sifting, and dispersing clippings.
Burr’s contributions include advancements in agricultural equipment, refrigeration techniques, and various other tools and devices. Burr's inventions not only provided practical solutions for everyday challenges but also laid the groundwork for future technological progress in these areas.
Unlike many inventors, John A. Burr received royalties for his inventions and spent his later years traveling and lecturing.
He died of influenza at age 78 in 1926.
Today In Black History
In 1824, freed enslaved Africans established Liberia as an African country.
In 1843, the National Black Convention met in Buffalo, New York, with about seventy delegates from twelve states. Henry Highland Garnet, a 27-year-old Presbyterian pastor, called for a slave revolt and general slave strike.
In 1957, Cora W. Brown, the first Black woman elected to a state senate, was appointed Special General Counsel of the U.S. Post Office Department and the first Black female member of its legal staff.
In 1960, the African nation of Congo gained its independence from France.
In 2022, Solange Knowles became the first Black woman to compose for the New York City Ballet.
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