Scientist. African-American inventor who dedicated his life to developing a variety of inventions relating to the railroad industry. To some Granville T. Woods was known as the "Black Edison". He began working in a machine shop at the age of 10. In 1884, he started his own shop, the Woods Electric Company, in Cincinati, Ohio. He later moved his company to its permanent location, New York City, in 1890. Over the course of his career Woods contributed immeasurable advances to the field of engineering, obtaining more than 60 patents. He made his most significant invention, a railway telegraph system in 1887. This system allowed crew members on moving trains to communicate with one another and with railroad stations. It made rail traffic safer by helping to avoid train collisions. His other inventions included a telephone transmitter (1844), a galvanic battery (1888), and an automatic circut-breaking apparatus (1890). Woods never married and died at Harlem Hospital in New York City on Jan. 30, 1910 following a stroke. Even though he was a versatile inventor, Woods died in virtual poverty. Decades after his death an elementary school in Brooklyn, New York was named and dedicated in his honor in 1969. Also on Oct. 11, 1974 Gov. John J. Gilligan of his home state Ohio issued a proclamation in recognition of the "Black Edison" who had more than 60 patents to his credit.
Scientist. African-American inventor who dedicated his life to developing a variety of inventions relating to the railroad industry. To some Granville T. Woods was known as the "Black Edison". He began working in a machine shop at the age of 10. In 1884, he started his own shop, the Woods Electric Company, in Cincinati, Ohio. He later moved his company to its permanent location, New York City, in 1890. Over the course of his career Woods contributed immeasurable advances to the field of engineering, obtaining more than 60 patents. He made his most significant invention, a railway telegraph system in 1887. This system allowed crew members on moving trains to communicate with one another and with railroad stations. It made rail traffic safer by helping to avoid train collisions. His other inventions included a telephone transmitter (1844), a galvanic battery (1888), and an automatic circut-breaking apparatus (1890). Woods never married and died at Harlem Hospital in New York City on Jan. 30, 1910 following a stroke. Even though he was a versatile inventor, Woods died in virtual poverty. Decades after his death an elementary school in Brooklyn, New York was named and dedicated in his honor in 1969. Also on Oct. 11, 1974 Gov. John J. Gilligan of his home state Ohio issued a proclamation in recognition of the "Black Edison" who had more than 60 patents to his credit.
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