Proofs of History
——Materials about forty-one major inventors in mechanical electrical technology
First Office Policy Research Room of the Mechanical Industry Department
Here, we have collected short biographies of forty-one important inventors in the history of mechanical and electrical technology over the past two hundred years. Historical facts fully prove that: the inventions and creations of science and technology mostly originate from the working people, and most of them come from those with low social status, little knowledge, and poor conditions.
Among these forty-one most famous mechanical and electrical technology inventors, twenty-five basically had no formal schooling, were from the working class, and were looked down upon and oppressed by society before their inventions. Eight of them had received schooling but were not experts in mechanical or electrical fields; they originally engaged in other professions and became “experts” through research. Seven had received specialized technical education and worked in electromechanical factories or research departments, but before their inventions, they were just ordinary engineers, researchers, assistants, etc., not authorities. One person’s resume is not found, so the situation is unclear.
(1) Mostly uneducated in schools
Newcomen (UK) 1663—1729
Blacksmith, improved the steam-powered water pump at age 35, and invented the atmospheric pressure machine at age 42.
Polzunov (Russia) 1728—1766
Born into a soldier’s family, worked as a factory apprentice and mining metallurgist. Proposed the steam engine design at age 35, and successfully built it three years later, making it the world's first industrially applicable steam engine. He also formulated some basic laws of thermodynamics.
Watt (UK) 1736—1819
His father was a bankrupt small merchant. He apprenticed at a gauge factory at age 18. At age 28 (1764), he repaired Newcomen’s steam engine at the University of Glasgow and noticed the large amount of steam waste, leading to the invention of the separate condenser. After four years of trial, it was completed. By 1774, the steam engine was fully tested successfully. The invention of the steam engine marked the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
Evans (USA) 1755—1819
Born in a poor peasant family, used wood shavings for lighting in childhood, later became a worker. Invented the carding machine at age 22. At age 32, invented the high-pressure steam engine, further advancing Watt’s design.
Hargreaves (UK) 1745—1778
Worked as a carpenter and weaver, uneducated. In 1767 (age 22), developed the spinning jenny, and later improved the carding machine. His machines faced opposition from hand industrialists.
Arkwright (UK) 1732—1792
Born into a poor family, lacked formal schooling. Worked as a barber and sold wigs. Started working in a textile factory in his thirties, and in 1769, invented the water frame spinning machine powered by water.
John Kay (UK) birth and death unknown
Weaver, invented the flying shuttle loom in 1733, which was opposed by hand weavers. He fled to France and died in poverty.
Howe (USA) 1819—1867
Born into a farming family, worked as a mechanic and watchmaker. Designed and made the sewing machine at age 26.
Glinkov (Russia) birth and death unknown
Technician, from the working class, invented the spinning machine in 1760, nine years earlier than Arkwright, but was not further developed or promoted due to lack of recognition.
Stevenson (UK) 1781—1848
His father was a coal miner. As a child, he fed cattle and horses at the mine. At 17, he was illiterate when working as a water pump worker, but later attended night school. At age 32, he created the first steam locomotive. In 1826, his first heavy locomotive ran on rails at 15 miles per hour, making him a pioneer of modern locomotives.
Chelpanov (Russia) 1774—1842
Serf, was a craftsman. Pioneer in Russian railway locomotives. Invented around the same time as Stevenson but was not recognized by the Russian Empire.
Kuribin (Russia) 1735—1818
Born into a peasant family, later became a renowned mechanic. Worked to reduce the labor of Vologda river ferrymen, using water flow to drive winches instead of pulling. Also made inventions in bridge construction, mechanics, and searchlights.
Leben (France) 1769—1804
Mechanic, used cannons as cylinders and shells as pistons to create primitive gas engines, using gas instead of explosives for ignition.
Wright Brothers (USA) 1867—1912 (Wilbur Wright’s lifespan)
Born into poverty, graduated from high school, worked as bicycle dealers and mechanics.
In 1903, their aircraft weighing 750 pounds and with 12 horsepower successfully test flew.
Nartov (Russia) 1694—1756
Born into a serf family, worked as a court mechanic during Peter the Great’s era. In 1729, built the world’s first lathe with a tool rest, the ancestor of all modern machine tools. Unfortunately, it was not practically applied.
Whitney (USA) 1756—1825
Son of a farmer, made toys and needles in his youth. Graduated from university at age 27. Invented the punch card machine, and in 1798, invented the milling machine and jigs, and proposed the principle of interchangeable parts.
Blanchard (USA) 1788—1864
Lacked formal education, worked as a lathe operator at age 18, invented the screw-cutting lathe at age 24.
Lourens (USA) birth and death unknown
Child laborer on farms, worked in a carpentry factory at age 15, often visited a gun factory for study, later worked as a gunsmith in a prison factory. Created a hexagon lathe in 1854.
Johnson (Sweden) birth and death unknown
Worked as a tool and gauge worker at Ford in the USA, returned to Sweden before 1910, established his own factory, and laid the foundation for precise measurement and interchangeability.
Franklin (USA) 1706—1790
Started as an apprentice at age 10, later ran a printing shop and newspaper. Advocated for the American independence revolution, served as an envoy to England and France. Conducted experiments with kites, contributed to electrical theory, and invented the lightning rod.
Faraday (UK) 1791—1867
Son of a blacksmith, became a newsboy at 13, later apprenticed in bookbinding. Studied physics and chemistry through self-education, and worked as an assistant at the Royal Institution laboratory. In 1831, created the primitive generator using permanent magnets. Also made many inventions in physics and chemistry.
Wattson (UK) 1802—1875
His father was a machine worker. From age 15, worked in a machine shop, especially interested in electricity, and studied diligently. Became a professor of experimental philosophy at the Royal Institution in 1834. Improved electrical signaling devices and sound alarms in 1837, and invented the five-needle telegraph based on this.
Edison (USA) 1847—1931
Born into a farming family, only attended three months of elementary school. Loved chemical experiments from a young age, worked as a newspaper boy on trains at age 12, and had a fire accident during experiments, which deafened him. In 1862, worked as a telegraph operator on the railway, and then continuously made inventions. He held over a thousand patents, including the incandescent lamp in 1879, the electric car in 1880, and the first power plant in New York in 1882, as well as the phonograph, motion pictures, sound films, and movie cameras.
Stieglitz (USA) birth and death unknown
Born into a peasant family. As a shoemaker, created shoe-making machines. Due to dust from machine operation, researched vacuum cleaners. Around 1850, made the first vacuum cleaner, the first wind-powered tool in history.
Westinghouse (USA) 1846—1914
Factory worker, created tube-cutting machines, invented air brakes for railway cars, and later became a capitalist.
(2) Originally outsiders
Fulton (USA) 1765—1815
His origins and experiences are not detailed. At age 21, he successfully developed a modern waterwheel with blades (50 horsepower). In 1855, he successfully tested an 800-horsepower water turbine, the founder of modern water turbines.
Mochayski (Russia) 1825—1890
Born into a navy family. Served as a naval cadet. Began researching aircraft manufacturing in 1860. Started making aircraft in 1882, creating the world’s first aircraft engine powered by steam, but was not valued by the Russian Empire.
Langley (USA) 1834—1906
Graduated from high school, worked as an architect and designer. Contributed to astronomy and aerodynamics. In 1896, built the first model airplane powered by a steam engine. Due to lack of support, he could not further improve and died dejected.
Kosdovich (Russia) 1851—1916
Former naval officer. Designed the world’s first gasoline engine with electric spark ignition in 1879, successfully tested in 1884. Unfortunately, not valued by the Russian government at the time.
Arsede (Denmark) 1777—1851
Worked as an assistant in his father’s pharmacy, later studied literature and philosophy at university, and finally became a physicist. In 1820, while teaching physics at the University of Copenhagen, he discovered the basic principle of the electric motor when magnetic induction occurred near a wire.
Moss (USA) 1791—1872
Born into a poor family of a pastor, a struggling student, graduated from Yale University with a work-study program, loved painting, and made a living teaching art. Starting in 1832, he envisioned using electric current to send signals over wires, and in 1835, his first crude telegraph was produced. He also researched using dots and dashes for Morse code. In 1837, he built a long-distance telegraph.
(3) Skilled but not originally authorities
Pears (UK) 1851—1931
Son of a linguist, worked as a workshop technician and researcher. In 1884, invented the reciprocating steam turbine and steam engine, and in 1892, invented the axial-flow steam turbine, and in 1897, applied turbines to ships.
Ende (UK) 1771—1833
His father was a coal mine manager. He built a high-pressure non-condensing steam engine in 1800 at age 29. In 1804, he successfully built a 20-ton locomotive. Later, due to lack of patent rights, he died in poverty.
Otto (Germany) birth and death unknown
Doctor, tested the explosion principle of Lebon, created the basic theory of the four-stroke internal combustion engine, and manufactured the modern four-stroke gas engine in 1876.
Diesel (Germany) 1858—1913
Engineer, studied at a technical school, worked as an administrator at a refrigeration equipment company in Paris. Published "The Theory and Construction of Rational Heat Engines" in his thirties, and four years later, on this basis, made the diesel engine.
Daimler (Germany) 1834—1900
Graduated from an industrial school, worked as an engineer. In 1885 (age 21), he first built two-stroke, three-stroke, and four-stroke gas engine automobiles; also made gasoline engines mounted on cars, and was a pioneer of gasoline automobiles.
Benze (Germany) 1844—1929
Engineer. Graduated from a technical college, worked in Daimler’s gas engine factory. Successfully built the first car in 1886. Invented the differential gear, ignition device, and vaporization fuel system for automobiles.
Yagobi (Russia) 1801—1874
From an intellectual family. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Invented the world’s first electric motor at age 33. The invention of the electric motor ushered in the electrical era of industry.
(4) Unclear situations
Beno (France) 1802—1867
Details of his origins and experiences are not provided. At age 21, he successfully developed a modern water turbine with blades (50 horsepower). In 1855, he successfully tested an 800-horsepower water turbine, and is considered the founder of modern water turbines.
Reprinted from "People's Daily" June 10, 1958
