Samuel R. Scottron facts for kids
Samuel Raymond Scottron (born in 1841, died in 1908) was a smart African-American inventor from Brooklyn, New York. He started his working life as a barber. He also became a strong community leader and speaker. He worked hard to make things fair for everyone. He even earned an engineering degree from Cooper Union in 1878.
Contents
Samuel Scottron: A Life of Invention and Activism
Samuel Scottron was a very important person in New York. He created groups to help people get along and be treated fairly. He also spoke and wrote about how different races could live together peacefully. He was a member of the Brooklyn school board. He was also a leader in the Republican Party. Scottron fought to end slavery in places like Cuba and Puerto Rico. He led the Cuban Anti-Slavery Committee, which met at the Cooper Institute.
His Early Life and Career
Samuel Scottron moved to New York City with his family when he was a child. There, he finished grammar school. During the American Civil War, he worked as a sutler for the 3rd United States Colored Infantry. A sutler was someone who sold supplies to soldiers. He almost lost all his money during this time.
To earn back his money, he first ran grocery stores in Florida. These were in Gainesville and Jacksonville. After that, he opened a barber shop in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was there that he created his first invention. He got a patent for an adjustable window cornice. A cornice is a decorative piece above a window.
Becoming an Inventor
Later, Samuel Scottron moved to Brooklyn, New York. He worked as a traveling salesman for a company that bought and sold goods from other countries. While doing this, he kept inventing new things. By the late 1880s, he was able to make a living from his inventions. He started his own company, the Scottron Manufacturing Company. It was located at 98 Monroe Street in Brooklyn. He helped society by fighting against slavery and by creating useful inventions.
Amazing Inventions
Samuel Scottron was a very creative inventor. He received several patents for his ideas. One of his first inventions was a special mirror bracket. This bracket let you see yourself as others saw you. He went on to get four more patents. One of his most famous inventions was the curtain rod.
Here are some of his inventions and when he received the patents:
- Improved Mirror (March 31, 1868) - This was his special mirror.
- Adjustable Window Cornice (February 17, 1880) - A decorative piece for windows.
- Cornice (January 16, 1883) - Another type of window decoration.
- Pole Tip (September 21, 1886) - A tip for a pole, perhaps for curtains.
- Curtain Rod (August 30, 1892) - The rod used to hang curtains.
- Supporting Bracket (September 12, 1893) - A bracket to hold things up.
Samuel Raymond Scottron passed away on October 14, 1908.
Images for kids
-
Samuel R. Scottron
