Eli Whitney

Eli Whitney

Eli Whitney is an American inventor, mechanical engineer, and pioneer in the mass production of interchangeable parts. Born in 1765 in Westborough, Massachusetts, Whitney showed an early aptitude for mechanics and invention. He graduated from Yale College in 1792 and soon after, while working as a tutor in Georgia, he invented the cotton gin. This machine revolutionized the cotton industry by automating the separation of cotton fibers from their seeds, a process that was previously labor-intensive and time-consuming. The cotton gin greatly increased cotton production in the southern United States, but also contributed to the growth of slavery. Whitney's other major contribution was the development of the concept of interchangeable parts in manufacturing. He introduced this idea in the production of muskets for the U.S. government, although its implementation was initially met with challenges. Despite not profiting greatly from his inventions due to patent infringement and other issues, Whitney's innovations laid the groundwork for the American system of mass production and the Industrial Revolution in the United States. His legacy as an inventor and industrialist is celebrated, and he is recognized as one of the most influential figures in American technological history.

Eli Whitney, American inventor, cotton gin, interchangeable parts, mass production, Industrial Revolution

— Helen James

CITATION : "Helen James. 'Eli Whitney.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=435206 (Accessed on July 08, 2025)"