THOMAS L. JENNINGS
Thomas L. Jennings (1791-1856) was a leading abolitionist. He was a free
tradesman who operated a dry-cleaning business in New York City, New York.
When he was loving jw thirty years old, in 1821, he was granted a patent for a
dry cleaning process called "dry scouring." The first money Jennings earned was
spent on the legal fees that were necessary to purchase his family out of
slavery, and to support the abolitionist cause. Although he was the first
African American to receive a patent, he was not, in fact, the first African
American whose invention was patented. In 1857, Oscar Stuart,a slave owner,
patented a "double cotton scraper." He did not, in fact, invent the double
cotton scraper, but the only name given for the actual inventor was Ned, his
slave. In his defense, Stuart claimed that "the master is the owner of the
fruits of the labor of the slave, both manual and intellectual." He was famous
for his dry- cleaning business. In 1793 and 1836, it was legal for both slaves
and freedman to receive patents for their inventions. However, it was not in
1857. In 1858, the United States Patent Office changed the patent law, in Stuart's
favor. Their reasoning was that slaves were not citizens, and could not be
granted patents. Yet, in 1870, the patent office passed a law that any black
person, whether a slave or freedman could have their invention patented. In 1831,
Jennings became assistant secretary to the first Annual Convention of the People
of Color in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The important man in history I am
researching is Thomas Jennings. He was born in 1791. Thomas Jennings was the
first African-American to receive a patent. Jennings' skills were so accepted
that people near and far-off came to him to alter or custom-tailor objects of
clothing for them. He invented a dry cleaning business, and received a patent
for following through with his idea. The topic is of how he made this task a
reality and build his family out of slavery. Thomas Jennings had many
significant time periods throughout his life. When he became 30, in 1821, he
granted a patent for dry cleaning, or dry scouring. Another important date in
his life period was
Thomas L. Jennings (1791-1856) was a leading abolitionist. He was a free
tradesman who operated a dry-cleaning business in New York City, New York.
When he was loving jw thirty years old, in 1821, he was granted a patent for a
dry cleaning process called "dry scouring." The first money Jennings earned was
spent on the legal fees that were necessary to purchase his family out of
slavery, and to support the abolitionist cause. Although he was the first
African American to receive a patent, he was not, in fact, the first African
American whose invention was patented. In 1857, Oscar Stuart,a slave owner,
patented a "double cotton scraper." He did not, in fact, invent the double
cotton scraper, but the only name given for the actual inventor was Ned, his
slave. In his defense, Stuart claimed that "the master is the owner of the
fruits of the labor of the slave, both manual and intellectual." He was famous
for his dry- cleaning business. In 1793 and 1836, it was legal for both slaves
and freedman to receive patents for their inventions. However, it was not in
1857. In 1858, the United States Patent Office changed the patent law, in Stuart's
favor. Their reasoning was that slaves were not citizens, and could not be
granted patents. Yet, in 1870, the patent office passed a law that any black
person, whether a slave or freedman could have their invention patented. In 1831,
Jennings became assistant secretary to the first Annual Convention of the People
of Color in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The important man in history I am
researching is Thomas Jennings. He was born in 1791. Thomas Jennings was the
first African-American to receive a patent. Jennings' skills were so accepted
that people near and far-off came to him to alter or custom-tailor objects of
clothing for them. He invented a dry cleaning business, and received a patent
for following through with his idea. The topic is of how he made this task a
reality and build his family out of slavery. Thomas Jennings had many
significant time periods throughout his life. When he became 30, in 1821, he
granted a patent for dry cleaning, or dry scouring. Another important date in
his life period was