Robert Hall McCormick
Encyclopedia
Robert McCormick was an American inventor, who invented numerous devices including a version of the reaper
which his eldest son Cyrus McCormick
patented in 1834. Although he lived his life in rural Virginia
, he was patriarch of the McCormick family
that became influential in large cities such as Chicago
and New York
.
in Rockbridge County, Virginia
, in the Shenandoah Valley
on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains
. McCormick's paternal grandfather, Thomas McCormick (1702–1762), migrated to Pennsylvania
from Ulster
in 1735 and married Elizabeth Carruth in 1728.
His father, also named Robert McCormick, was born around 1738, was a private in the American Revolutionary War
, married his mother Martha Sanderson (1747–1804) in 1770, and died in 1818.
He married Mary Ann Hall (1780–1853), known as "Polly", in 1808 and was granted ownership of Walnut Grove in 1810.
Robert and Mary Ann raised their eight children on the farm who grew up helping in the shop and the mill. Robert frequently busied himself with small gadgets and inventions around the farm.
By 1809, McCormick had constructed a partially completed reaper
. He eventually decided to formalize some of his work when he applied for a patent in 1830 for a "hemp-break", a device for breaking hemp
and flax
. He also produced a threshing
machine, a clover sheller of stone, a blacksmith's bellows
and a hill-side plow. By 1831, he had completed a reaper. He was encouraged by Polly to give it to their assertive and business-minded son Cyrus
, who was able to improve and patent it in 1834.
He died on July 4, 1846.
He and his wife were buried in the cemetery of the Old Providence Stone Church
just north of the estate.
Their children were:
In 2002, Robert and his three sons had a variety of wheat
named after them, for "inventing, perfecting, manufacturing, and marketing of the mechanical grain reaper [which] ushered in the era of modern agriculture and wrought one of the greatest advancements in agricultural history." McCormick is a soft red winter wheat
(Triticum aestivum L.) developed and released in May 2002 by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station.
Reaper
A reaper is a person or machine that reaps crops at harvest, when they are ripe.-Hand reaping:Hand reaping is done by various means, including plucking the ears of grains directly by hand, cutting the grain stalks with a sickle, cutting them with a scythe, or with a later type of scythe called a...
which his eldest son Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
patented in 1834. Although he lived his life in rural Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, he was patriarch of the McCormick family
McCormick family
The McCormick family is a family of business people and politicians from the United States.They descend from Robert McCormick and Mary Ann Hall.Below is a list of members:...
that became influential in large cities such as Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
McCormick was born June 8, 1780 on the family estate of Walnut GroveCyrus McCormick Farm
The Cyrus McCormick Farm and Workshop is on the family farm of inventor Cyrus Hall McCormick known as Walnut Grove. Cyrus Hall McCormick improved and patented the mechanical reaper, which eventually led to the creation of the combine harvester...
in Rockbridge County, Virginia
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. McCormick's paternal grandfather, Thomas McCormick (1702–1762), migrated to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
in 1735 and married Elizabeth Carruth in 1728.
His father, also named Robert McCormick, was born around 1738, was a private in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, married his mother Martha Sanderson (1747–1804) in 1770, and died in 1818.
He married Mary Ann Hall (1780–1853), known as "Polly", in 1808 and was granted ownership of Walnut Grove in 1810.
Robert and Mary Ann raised their eight children on the farm who grew up helping in the shop and the mill. Robert frequently busied himself with small gadgets and inventions around the farm.
By 1809, McCormick had constructed a partially completed reaper
Reaper
A reaper is a person or machine that reaps crops at harvest, when they are ripe.-Hand reaping:Hand reaping is done by various means, including plucking the ears of grains directly by hand, cutting the grain stalks with a sickle, cutting them with a scythe, or with a later type of scythe called a...
. He eventually decided to formalize some of his work when he applied for a patent in 1830 for a "hemp-break", a device for breaking hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
and flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
. He also produced a threshing
Threshing
Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of cereal grain from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it. It is the step in grain preparation after harvesting and before winnowing, which separates the loosened chaff from the grain...
machine, a clover sheller of stone, a blacksmith's bellows
Bellows
A bellows is a device for delivering pressurized air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location.Basically, a bellows is a deformable container which has an outlet nozzle. When the volume of the bellows is decreased, the air escapes through the outlet...
and a hill-side plow. By 1831, he had completed a reaper. He was encouraged by Polly to give it to their assertive and business-minded son Cyrus
Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
, who was able to improve and patent it in 1834.
He died on July 4, 1846.
He and his wife were buried in the cemetery of the Old Providence Stone Church
Old Providence Stone Church
Old Providence Stone Church is a historic church in Spottswood, Virginia in Augusta County, Virginia.A log structure was built in the area by 1743 for early settlers known as the South Mountain Meering House. In 1746 the congregation split, and the stone building was built in 1793 on land donated...
just north of the estate.
Their children were:
- Cyrus Hall McCormickCyrus McCormickCyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
(1809–1884) moved to ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and established the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. - Robert Hall McCormick was born May 24, 1810 and died June 29, 1826.
- Susan J. McCormick was born August 1, 1813 and died June 27, 1826.
- William Sanderson McCormickWilliam Sanderson McCormickWilliam Sanderson McCormick was an American businessman who developed the company that became the major producer of agricultural equipment in the 19th century...
(1815–1865) joined Cyrus in Chicago. - Mary Caroline McCormick was born April 18, 1817, married Reverend James Shields on May 11, 1847, and died on March 18, 1888.
- Leander James McCormickLeander J. McCormickLeander James McCormick was an American farmer, inventor, manufacturer, and businessman. Although born in rural Virginia, he later owned vast amounts of real estate in downtown Chicago.-Life:...
(1819–1900) also joined Cyrus in Chicago. - John Prestly McCormick was born November 8, 1820 and died September 4, 1849.
- Amanda Joanna McCormick was born September 17, 1822, married Hugh Adams on May 8, 1845, and died October 12, 1891.
In 2002, Robert and his three sons had a variety of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
named after them, for "inventing, perfecting, manufacturing, and marketing of the mechanical grain reaper [which] ushered in the era of modern agriculture and wrought one of the greatest advancements in agricultural history." McCormick is a soft red winter wheat
Winter wheat
Winter wheat is a type of wheat that is planted from September to December in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter wheat sprouts before freezing occurs, then becomes dormant until the soil warms in the spring. Winter wheat needs a few weeks of cold before being able to flower, however persistent snow...
(Triticum aestivum L.) developed and released in May 2002 by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station.