Year: 1834​

Who: Henry Blair​

Where: Montgomery County, MD​

What: Henry Blair, born in 1807 in Glen Ross, Maryland, was an innovative African American farmer and one of the earliest African-Americans to receive a United States patent. His ingenuity led to the creation of two significant agricultural devices aimed at improving farming efficiency and productivity.

Blair's first notable invention, patented on October 14, 1834, was a corn planter that greatly streamlined the process of planting corn. This device, resembling a wheelbarrow, featured a compartment to hold seeds and rakes trailing behind to cover the seeds after planting. This invention enabled farmers to plant their crops more effectively, enhancing overall yield.

His second invention, a cotton planter patented on August 31, 1836, further demonstrated his mechanical aptitude. This device worked by splitting the ground with two shovel-like blades, followed by a wheel-driven cylinder that sowed the seeds into the freshly tilled soil. This method not only distributed seeds quickly and evenly but also helped in weed control.

Throughout his career, Blair faced significant challenges due to his race, especially since he was operating in a period before the Emancipation Proclamation. Despite these challenges, his ability to secure patents reflects his status as a free man, though it does not provide a clear indication of his legal standing at the time. The legal landscape of the time initially allowed both free and enslaved individuals to hold patents, although this changed after a legal challenge in 1857 led to a revision in patent law, excluding enslaved people from patent eligibility until after the Civil War.

Sources:

Websites:

• BlackPast. (n.d.). Henry Blair (1807-1860). https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/blair-henry-1807-1860/

• Manneri, C. (2023, February 28). Henry Blair. CANR Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access, University of Delaware. https://sites.udel.edu/canr-dei/2023/02/28/henry-blair/