George Washington Carver
1864 - 1943
Known for his work in Chemestry
George Washington Carver, American scientist, and inventor. He was born into slavery in Missouri in January 1864. He promoted alternative crops and cotton, such as peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes. He made 105 food recipes using peanuts. He also made about 100 products made from peanuts useful for the house and farm, including cosmetics, dyes, paints, plastics, gasoline, and nitroglycerin. Carver’s work on peanuts was intended to provide an alternative crop. In 1896, George Washington Carver was an inspiration to all. He taught at the Tuskegee institute there for 47 years. He taught methods of crop rotation so that, farmers that would also improve the soil of areas heavily cultivated in cotton, initiated research into crop products Carver designed a mobile classroom to take education out to farmers. He called it a Jessup wagon after the New York financier and philanthropist Morris Ketchum Jesup, who provided funding to support the program.
By Carl Wilkey