Eli Whitney Blake
Encyclopedia
Eli Whitney Blake, Sr. was an American
inventor, best known for his mortise lock
and stone-crushing machine, the latter of which earned him a place into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
.
, and was graduated at Yale
in 1816, after which he studied law
with Judge Gould in Litchfield, Connecticut
. But this he soon abandoned at the request of his uncle, Eli Whitney
, who desired his assistance in erecting and organizing the gun
factory at Whitneyville. Here he made important improvements in the machinery and in the processes of manufacturing arms.
On the death of Mr. Whitney in 1825 he associated with himself his brother Philos, and continued to manage the business. In 1836 they were joined by another brother, John A., and, under the firm name of Blake Brothers, established at Westville
a factory for the production of door locks and latches of their own invention. The business was afterward extended so as to include caster
s, hinge
s, and other articles of hardware, most of which were covered by patents. In this branch of manufacture, Blake Brothers were among the pioneers, and long held the front rank.
In 1852 Mr. Blake was appointed to superintend the macadam
izing of the city streets, and his attention was directed to the want of a proper machine for breaking stone. This problem he solved in 1857 by the invention of the Blake stone breaker, which, for originality, simplicity, and effectiveness, was justly regarded by experts as unique.
Mr. Blake was one of the founders, and for several years president, of the Connecticut Academy of Science. He contributed valuable papers to the American Journal of Science and other periodicals, the most important of which he published in a single volume as Original Solutions of Several Problems in Aërodynamics (1882).
, the inventor of the cotton gin
. He was also the father of scientist Eli Whitney Blake, Jr.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor, best known for his mortise lock
Mortise lock
A mortise lock is one that requires a pocket—the mortise—to be cut into the door or piece of furniture into which the lock is to be fitted...
and stone-crushing machine, the latter of which earned him a place into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
.
Biography
Blake studied at Leicester AcademyLeicester Academy
Leicester Academy was founded on March 23, 1784, when the Act of Incorporation for Leicester Academy was passed by the Massachusetts General Court as a private, state chartered institution. The charter issued to the Academy bears the bold signature of John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts; and...
, and was graduated at Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1816, after which he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
with Judge Gould in Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
. But this he soon abandoned at the request of his uncle, Eli Whitney
Eli Whitney
Eli Whitney was an American inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin. This was one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution and shaped the economy of the Antebellum South...
, who desired his assistance in erecting and organizing the gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
factory at Whitneyville. Here he made important improvements in the machinery and in the processes of manufacturing arms.
On the death of Mr. Whitney in 1825 he associated with himself his brother Philos, and continued to manage the business. In 1836 they were joined by another brother, John A., and, under the firm name of Blake Brothers, established at Westville
Westville, Connecticut
Westville is a neighborhood of the city of New Haven, Connecticut located in the western part of the city west of the West River. The official neighborhood planning area for Westville is defined to be the area bordered by the neighboring town of Woodbridge, Connecticut on the west , by the Amity...
a factory for the production of door locks and latches of their own invention. The business was afterward extended so as to include caster
Caster
A caster is an undriven, single, double, or compound wheel that is designed to be mounted to the bottom of a larger object so as to enable that object to be easily moved...
s, hinge
Hinge
A hinge is a type of bearing that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them. Two objects connected by an ideal hinge rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation. Hinges may be made of flexible material or of moving components...
s, and other articles of hardware, most of which were covered by patents. In this branch of manufacture, Blake Brothers were among the pioneers, and long held the front rank.
In 1852 Mr. Blake was appointed to superintend the macadam
Macadam
Macadam is a type of road construction pioneered by the Scotsman John Loudon McAdam in around 1820. The method simplified what had been considered state-of-the-art at that point...
izing of the city streets, and his attention was directed to the want of a proper machine for breaking stone. This problem he solved in 1857 by the invention of the Blake stone breaker, which, for originality, simplicity, and effectiveness, was justly regarded by experts as unique.
Mr. Blake was one of the founders, and for several years president, of the Connecticut Academy of Science. He contributed valuable papers to the American Journal of Science and other periodicals, the most important of which he published in a single volume as Original Solutions of Several Problems in Aërodynamics (1882).
Family
As mentioned, he was a nephew of Eli WhitneyEli Whitney
Eli Whitney was an American inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin. This was one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution and shaped the economy of the Antebellum South...
, the inventor of the cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
. He was also the father of scientist Eli Whitney Blake, Jr.
Eli Whitney Blake, Jr.
Eli Whitney Blake, Jr. was an American scientist. His father and namesake was an inventor and partner of the Blake Brothers manufacturing firm...
.