Moments in Black History: Lewis Howard Latimer

Lewis Howard Latimer was born on September 4, 1848 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Latimer was the youngest of 4 children. His parents were George and Rebecca Latimer who escaped from slavery from Virginia six years before his birth. In 1864 at the age of 16 Latimer lied about his age in order to enlist in the United States Navy during the Civil War. After they denied him, he returned back to Boston and he accepted a position at the Crosby and Gould Patent Law Office. At the Law office, he taught himself mechnical drawing which led him to design numerous inventions of his own. Some of his inventions include railroads, cars, bathrooms, air conditioning and many more.

Latimer married Mary Wilson in 1873 they had two daughters on December 11, 1928. Leiws Latimer died.