George Washington

George Washington Carver

An African American Scientist

George Washington Carver was born in the year 1864. He was born in Diamond Grove, Missouri. He and his mother were slaves on the Moses Carver farm. When he was small he used to like to sneak into the woods and collect plants and flowers. He had a love for plants.

After the civil war, George remained at the farm. He started to teach himself to read. He really wanted an education. When he was ten years old he left the farm to attend a school in Kansas. He worked many jobs to support himself. He worked as a farmhand, a cook, and a laundry helper. After high school, many colleges denied him because he was an African American. Simpson College accepted him when he was at the age of 30. He studied agriculture. After a year in Simpson College, Carver was accepted to a college that is now known as Iowa State College. In 1896, Carver was the first black person to graduate from this college. Carver then became an instructor at this school. In about two years, Carver had his Master's degree. Carver was now known at many colleges. Many colleges invited him to teach. In 1896, Carver was invited to teach at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. He accepted. He remained there for the rest of his life.

George Washington Carver made a lot of products using peanuts, potatoes, and pecans. Using his intelligent mind, he made over 500 products out of these items. He made 325 products with only using peanuts. He designed 75 products using only pecans. He also created 108 products using potatoes. Some of the things he invented were adhesives, axle grease, bleach, buttermilk, chili sauce, fuel briquettes, ink, instant coffee, linoleum, mayonnaise, meat tenderizer, metal polish, paper, plastic, pavement, shaving cream, shoe polish, synthetic rubber, talcum powder, and wood stain.

George Washington Carver is known as one of the smartest African American scientist in history. George Washington died on January 5th, 1943. He died of anemia. President Roosevelt built him his own national monument in his birthplace, Diamond Grove, Missouri. Also, in 1948 the United States Postage Service made a postage stamp honoring him.