Inventor. Born into one of New England's oldest families in Foxboro, Massachusetts, his prolific and versatile ingenuity belied his lack of formal education. He had patented his first invention, a nail-making machine, by age 21. Six years later he established a leather business in Newark, New Jersey, where in 1818 he discovered the process of making patent leather. On July 4, 1826, he celebrated the nation's 50th birthday by introducing one of his most significant inventions: malleable cast iron, which he had produced after 6 years of research. In addition to numerous other contributions, he also developed a hybrid strawberry called the "Hilton," named after the New Jersey town where he later resided, which is now called Maplewood, Essex County. He died there in 1870 at the age of 83. His younger brother was inventor Uriah Boyden, a pioneer in the development of combustion engines.
Inventor. Born into one of New England's oldest families in Foxboro, Massachusetts, his prolific and versatile ingenuity belied his lack of formal education. He had patented his first invention, a nail-making machine, by age 21. Six years later he established a leather business in Newark, New Jersey, where in 1818 he discovered the process of making patent leather. On July 4, 1826, he celebrated the nation's 50th birthday by introducing one of his most significant inventions: malleable cast iron, which he had produced after 6 years of research. In addition to numerous other contributions, he also developed a hybrid strawberry called the "Hilton," named after the New Jersey town where he later resided, which is now called Maplewood, Essex County. He died there in 1870 at the age of 83. His younger brother was inventor Uriah Boyden, a pioneer in the development of combustion engines.
Bio by: Nikita Barlow
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