Year: 1821​

Who: Thomas L. Jennings (1791 – 1859)​

Where: New York City​

What: Thomas L. Jennings (1791-1856) was a pioneering African-American entrepreneur, tailor, and inventor based in New York City, who broke significant racial barriers in the early 19th century. Jennings made history by being the first African American to receive a patent under the American patent system. This patent, granted on March 3, 1821, was for a dry-cleaning process called "dry scouring," laying the groundwork for modern dry cleaning.

Jennings's innovation was not just a technological breakthrough but also a commercial success, enhancing his reputation in a predominantly white industry. Despite facing racial prejudice, his application for the patent was successful, primarily because the laws at that time, which generally did not allow African Americans to hold patents, were not applicable to him as he was a free man.

The success of his patent allowed Jennings to accumulate considerable wealth, which he used to promote social change and racial equality. He became a leading figure in the abolitionist movement and used his resources to support various causes, including efforts to abolish slavery and assist the African-American community.

Thomas Jennings also made significant contributions to the African-American community beyond his business ventures. He was involved in founding important philanthropic and rights organizations, such as the New York African Society for Mutual Relief and the Legal Rights Association. His family continued his legacy of social activism; notably, his daughter Elizabeth Jennings Graham won a crucial civil rights case in 1854, a century before Rosa Parks, which challenged racial segregation in public transport in New York City.

Sources:

Websites:

• Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). The First African American to Hold a Patent Invented a Dry Scouring Device. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/first-african-american-hold-patent-invented-dry-scouring-180971394/

• MIT Press. (n.d.). 300 years of African American invention and innovation. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/300-years-of-african-american-invention-and-innovation/#easy-footnote-13-7368

• Nascimento, M. L. F. (2018). First Black Patent: on Dry Cleaning System. Current Trends in Fashion Technology & Textile Engineering, 4(1), 6-8.